Jean-Félix Gouin

A lawyer in Marseille, Félix Gouin was elected to the National Assembly as a Socialist deputy in 1924 and was continuously re-elected until 1958. He was one of the 80 deputies, who voted against granting absolute power to Marshal Pétain on 10 Jul 1940. During the hearings against former Socialist premier Léon Blum (Feb 1942 - Apr 1942), Gouin assured his defense in the court. In Algeria, he presided over the Consultative Provisional Assembly (9 Nov 1943 - 1945). Re-elected deputy in Marseille in 1945, he was named President of the first Constituent National Assembly (8 Nov 1945 - 29 Jan 1946). Gouin succeeded Charles de Gaulle as President of the Provisional Government and resigned as president of the Assembly on 29 Jan 1946. Gouin served as vice-president of the Council of Ministers (24 Jun 1946 - 12 Dec 1946) in the government of Georges Bidault, state minister in charge of the planning commission the cabinet of Léon Blum (16 Dec 1946 - 22 Jan 1947), state minister and president of the Council for Planning in the Cabinet of Paul Ramadier (23 Jan 1947 - 22 Oct 1947). He opposed the return of de Gaulle and adoption of the Constitution of Fifth Republic and retired from politics. Biography source: [4]