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Nationalist France is a common name given to France from 1931 to World War II when the political party Action Française gained control of France in 1931 with the leadership of Charles Maurras. Shortly after the 1931 French Presidential Election, Maurras and the Action Française-dominated Parliament passed the Acts of 1931, restoring the French monarchy and giving Maurras the privilege of being president for life, as well as suspending all other political parties in France. This allowed for King Alphonse, Charles Maurras, and Action Française, now known as the Avant Populaire Français, to gain extensive powers over the French population.
Following the ascension of King Alphonse I, who was previously King of Spain, France began a massive military build up and began to be seen as a threat by Germany. The nation's economy soon rose out of the Great Depression as being strong and powerful, contributing to the nation's might. In 1939, Maurras declared war on Germany and Italy in response to their declaration of war on Austria.