The Provisional Government of the French Republic (1944-1946), led by Charles de Gaulle, completed the liberation of the country, restored the Republic and laid the foundations of post-war social modernisation. Established in Paris in August 1944, it saw women vote for the first time in 1945, created the social security system and nationalised companies such as Renault. Charles de Gaulle resigned in January 1946; Félix Gouin, Georges Bidault and then Léon Blum succeeded him until the institutions of the Fourth Republic were in place.