The Opportunist Republicans (French: Républicains opportunistes), also known as the Moderates (French: Modérés), were a faction of French Republicans who believed, after the proclamation of the Third Republic in 1870, that the regime could only be consolidated by successive phases. Considered to be on the centre-left of the political spectrum at the time, they dominated French politics from 1876 to the 1890s, and were rivalled to their left, first by the Radicals and then by various Socialist parties. Despite the pejorative connotation of this label, the "Opportunists" were able to reinforce Republican tendencies in the country in a time when monarchists forces were still strong.
Read more about Opportunist Republicans: The "Opportunists", See Also
Famous quotes containing the word republicans:
“Yesterday the Electoral Commission decided not to go behind the papers filed with the Vice-President in the case of Florida.... I read the arguments in the Congressional Record and can’t see how lawyers can differ on the question. But the decision is by a strictly party vote—eight Republicans against seven Democrats! It shows the strength of party ties.”
—Rutherford Birchard Hayes (1822–1893)