May 1958, Crisis of

   The Crisis of May 1958 was a series of events that took place in Algiers in May 1958. The resignation of the French government that was in the minority in the National Assembly over the Algerian question on April 15 started the crisis. pierre pflim-lin was charged on May 8 to form a new government, while tensions increased in Algeria and in France. While Pflimlin was at the Assembly (May 13) to assume office, General raoul salan and others in Algiers formed a Committee of Public Safety. Faced with the situation that had developed not only in Algeria (uprisings, insubordination proclaimed by a faction in the army) but in France (formation of several Committees of Public Safety), and dreading an escalation of the crisis, the president of the Republic, rené coty, appealed to General charles de gaulle to intervene. The crisis led to de Gaulle coming to political power.