French Workers’ Party

political party, France

Also known as: Parti Ouvrier Français

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June 26, 2026

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The French Workers' Party (Parti Ouvrier Français) was a significant political entity in France, founded in 1880. It was largely shaped by the ideas of Karl Marx, with input from his son-in-law Paul Lafargue and Friedrich Engels. The party aimed to represent the proletariat and drew support from various working-class segments.

However, the party experienced internal divisions and splits throughout its existence. By the 1890s, France had five major socialist parties. Despite efforts to unify them, these divisions persisted. In 1905, two of these parties merged to form the French Section of the Workers' International (SFIO), which later became known as the Socialist Party. A significant faction broke away in 1920 to form the French Communist Party.12

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Socialist Party
France’s first Marxist party, the French Workers’ Party (Parti Ouvrier Français), founded in 1880, claimed to represent the proletariat; its constitution was drafted largely by the radical labour leader Jules Guesde with input from Karl Marx (who wrote the preamble), Marx’s son-in-law Paul Lafargue, and Friedrich Engels. The French Workers’…
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France’s first Marxist party, the French Workers’ Party (Parti Ouvrier Français), founded in 1880, claimed to represent the proletariat; its constitution was drafted largely by the radical labour leader Jules Guesde with input from Karl Marx (who wrote the preamble), Marx’s son-in-law Paul Lafargue, and Friedrich Engels. The French Workers’…
Read More