In Paris the Sakiet affair had effectually inflicted the death wound upon the Gaillard government; but, like a frog in a laboratory, the corpse had continued to twitch on for another two months. Messieurs les bons offices had not helped matters, the suggestion of Anglo-American interference in Algerian affairs alienating the centre from its support of Gaillard. Soustelle declared emotionally, "It's the total liquidation of the French positions in North Africa that is being prepared. That's the policy of the petroleum monopolies who want to kick us out of the Sahara." On another occasion he was heard to utter the loaded words: "A government of Public Safety must take over." Another bout of massive strikes shook the country; in March even the police demonstrated in front of the Assembly for "danger money"; on 1 April all the public services went out. On 15 April the Gaillard government fell by 321 to 255 on a vote of confidence about the bons offices. The Communists and the centre had improbably united forces, with Deputy Soustelle—now cast in the role of premier-slayer—putting in the boot as he had with Bourgès-Maunoury six months previously. Once more France faced a vacuum of leadership; this time, the most perilous yet.

XREF: Part of the cascade of French government collapses in 1957-58 that set up de Gaulle's return, connecting to the broader May 1958 crisis narrative.

Horne, Alistair, A Savage War of Peace- Alge…, loc. 828