National Centre of Independents and Peasants facts for kids

Quick facts for kids National Centre of Independents and Peasants Centre national des indépendants et paysans
President	Bruno North
Founder	René Coty
Founded	6 January 1949; 76 years ago (1949-01-06) (as CNI)
Merger of	Democratic Alliance, Republican Party of Liberty, Peasant Party
Headquarters	6, Rue Quentin Bauchart 75008 Paris
Youth wing	Youngs Independents and Peasants
Ideology	French nationalism Conservatism Agrarianism Euroscepticism Before 1962: Conservative liberalism Economic liberalism Pro-Europeanism
Political position	Right-wing Before 1962: Centre-right
Colours	Blue, white, red (French Tricolour)
National Assembly	0 / 577
Senate	0 / 348
European Parliament	0 / 74
Regional Councils	0 / 17
Departmental Councils	0 / 101
Political parties

The National Centre of Independents and Peasants (its French name is Centre national des indépendants et paysans), often called CNIP, is a political party in France. It is known for its right-wing and agrarian (farmer-focused) ideas. The party was formed in 1951. It brought together several groups, including the National Centre of Independents (CNI), the Peasant Party, and the Republican Party of Liberty.

The CNIP was very important during the time of the Fourth Republic (before 1958). However, after the Fifth Republic started, its influence became much smaller. The party often works as a smaller partner with bigger centre-right parties. Historically, the CNIP and its earlier groups supported classical liberal and economically liberal ideas. This meant they generally opposed strong government control over the economy.

History of the CNIP

The Fourth Republic Years

The Centre National des Indépendants (CNI) started in January 1949. Its goal was to bring together centre-right and right-wing politicians. These politicians were spread across many different parties at the time. In 1951, the CNI merged with a part of the Peasant Party. This is when it got its current name, the National Centre of Independents and Peasants.

During the Fourth Republic, the CNIP was the main right-wing party. It won about 14% of the votes in the 1951 and 1956 elections. The party was part of government groups called the "Third Force." It played a big role in governments in the early 1950s. Antoine Pinay, a very popular figure from the party, was Prime Minister in 1952. Joseph Laniel followed him as Prime Minister from 1953 to 1954. Also, René Coty, a CNIP politician, became President of France in 1953.

The party's power started to go down after a military defeat in Indochina in 1954. After the 1956 elections, it was mostly in opposition for the last two years of the Fourth Republic. During the Cold War, the CNIP was strongly against communism. It received support from business owners, colonial groups, and farmers. The CNIP supported European integration and NATO. It also strongly defended French Algeria during the Algerian War.

The Fifth Republic Years

In 1958, the CNIP supported Charles de Gaulle's return to power. They also approved the new constitution for the Fifth Republic. After winning over 130 seats in the 1958 election, the CNIP was part of the government with de Gaulle's party until 1962. Antoine Pinay, who was the Minister of the Economy, helped create a new French currency in 1959.

However, the party soon disagreed with de Gaulle. They did not like his policy of allowing Algeria to decide its own future. They also criticized his economic policies and his doubts about European unity. On October 5, 1962, many CNIP politicians voted against the government. They opposed de Gaulle's plan to elect the president by direct public vote. But some CNIP ministers, like future president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, continued to support de Gaulle. These ministers then formed their own party, the Independent Republicans.

The CNIP was greatly weakened by this split and its opposition to de Gaulle. It lost many seats in the 1962 election. The party then joined with the Popular Republican Movement to form the Democratic Centre. The CNIP became only a small part of this new group.

The party never became as strong as it once was. It became a smaller conservative group. In the 1980s, it tried to connect the main right-wing parties with the far-right. In the 1986 election, CNIP members were on lists with bigger parties. They also won three seats by working with the far-right in some areas. In 1997, they briefly joined forces with another party called the Movement for France.

Recent History

The CNIP became a partner of the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) in 2002. But in June 2008, it decided to separate from the UMP. After the 2007 election, the party had two seats in the French National Assembly.

After 2008, the CNIP considered working with President Nicolas Sarkozy's UMP or with other centre parties. It joined a committee with the UMP and its allies. Gilles Bourdouleix became the party leader in 2009. In 2011, he announced that the party was trying to form an alliance with a centrist group. These talks did not work out. This caused a big disagreement with the party's former leader, who wanted the party to stay more conservative. Bourdouleix wanted to move the CNIP more towards the centre-right.

In the 2009 European Parliament election, the party ran its own lists in some areas. In the 2010 regional elections, the CNIP supported some lists led by another party. It also backed the UMP or other right-wing lists in other regions.

On September 19, 2012, Gilles Bourdouleix, who was the party's only member of parliament, announced that the CNIP was joining the Union of Democrats and Independents (UDI). He had already joined the UDI group in the National Assembly. However, on September 10, the CNIP was removed from the UDI. This happened after Gilles Bourdouleix made a very controversial statement.

The CNIP joined a group called Les Amoureux de la France for the 2019 European Parliament election. It was also part of the parties that supported Eric Zemmour's political party, Reconquête, during the 2022 presidential election.

Electoral Results

Presidential Election

The CNIP has supported various candidates in French presidential elections over the years. Here are some of the results:

French Parliament Elections

The CNIP has also participated in elections for the National Assembly, which is part of the French Parliament.

National Assembly
Election year	# of overall votes	% of overall vote	# of overall seats won	+/–	Leader
1951	2,563,782 (#4)	13.64	96 / 625	–	Roger Duchet
1956	3,259,782 (#2)	14.99	95 / 595	1	Roger Duchet
1958	4,092,600 (#2)	19.9	132 / 546	37	Roger Duchet
1962	1,404,177 (#6)	7.66	28 / 491	104	Camille Laurens
1967	Ran together with UD-Ve		0 / 491	28	Camille Laurens
1968	Ran together with UDR		0 / 491	-	Camille Laurens
1973	Ran together with UDR		0 / 491	-	Camille Laurens
1978	Ran together with RPR		8 / 491	8	Bertrand Motte
1981	Ran together with RPR		5 / 491	3	Philippe Malaud
1986	Ran together with RPR		5 / 573	-	Philippe Malaud
1988	Ran together with RPR		5 / 577	-	Jacques Féron
1993	122,194 (#13)	0.5	2 / 577	3	Jean-Antoine Giansily
1997	132,814 (#13)	0.52	0 / 577	2	Olivier d'Ormesson
2002	14,403 (#19)	0.06	2 / 577	2	Annick du Roscoät
2007	Ran together with UMP		2 / 577	-	Annick du Roscoät
2012	Ran together with UMP		1 / 577	1	Gilles Bourdouleix

Leaders of the CNIP

The CNIP has had different leaders over the years. Until 1973, the leader was called a secretary-general. After 1973, the leader was called a president.

• 1949–1961: Roger Duchet (Secretary-General)
• 1961–1973: Camille Laurens (Secretary-General)
• 1973–1975: François Schleiter (President)
• 1975–1979: Bertrand Motte (President)
• 1979–1980: A group of leaders (Jacques Fouchier, Maurice Ligot, Raymond Bourgine)
• 1980–1987: Philippe Malaud (President)
• 1987–1989: Jacques Féron (President)
• 1989–1992: Yvon Briant (President)
• 1992–1996: Jean-Antoine Giansily (President)
• 1996–1998: Olivier d'Ormesson (President)
• 1998–1999: Jean Perrin (President)
• 1999–2000: Gérard Bourgoin (President)
• 2000–2009: Annick du Roscoät (President)
• Since 2009: Gilles Bourdouleix (President)

Elected Officials

As of August 2025, one notable elected official from the CNIP is:

• Gilles Bourdouleix (from Maine-et-Loire), who is a deputy (member of parliament) and the mayor of Cholet.

See also

In Spanish: Centro Nacional de Independientes y Campesinos para niños