French legislative election, 1881

French legislative election, 1881

← 1877 21 August and 4 September 1881 1885 →
All 545 seats to the Chamber of Deputies
Majority party Minority party Third party   Leader Léon Gambetta Jules Ferry Eugène Rouher Party Republican Union Republican Left Bonapartist Leader's seat Paris Vosges Puy-de-Dôme Seats won 204 168 46 Seat change 74 38 58 Percentage 37.43% 30.83% 8.44% Swing 12.48% 5.88% 11.52%
Composition of the Chamber of Deputies
Prime Minister before election Jules Ferry Republican Left Elected Prime Minister Léon Gambetta Republican Union

Jules Ferry
Republican Left

Léon Gambetta
Republican Union

The 1881 general election was held on 21 August and 4 September 1881. This election marked the collapse of the right compared to the 1877 election.

It was a great success for the followers of Léon Gambetta, whom President Jules Grévy appointed premier two months after the election. His government only lasted 73 days, however, before falling over the issue of electoral reform. This led to three short-lived minority governments, until Jules Ferry was able to form a second government in February 1883 with the support of Gambetta's Republican Union.

70.55% of eligible voters participated.