ABSTRACT
The task of safeguarding the democratic nature of French institutions, while infusing a more progressive content into French policies, was one which the Section francaise de l'Internationale ouvriere (SFIO) lacked the power to promote alone. But the SFIO's switch to steadfast opposition proved easier than the creation of an acceptable working relationship between the SFIO and the other opposition forces, without whose help there could be no meaningful anti-Gaullist alliance. Many Socialists persisted in their distrust of a Popular Front involving collaboration with the Communist party. The tactical objection of many Socialists to dealing too openly with the centrists was clearly mirrored in Mollet's attitude regarding the presidential candidacy of Gaston Defferre, the Socialist mayor of Marseilles. There was uncertainty in the camp of the SFIO. The party leadership knew that it could not succeed in national elections without help from other parties.
