 Although most politicians supported de Gaulle, Mitterrand, who opposed the new Constitution, famously denounced "a permanent coup d'état" in 1964.On 28 September 1958, a referendum took place and 79.2% of those who voted supported the new constitution and the creation of the Fifth Republic.The colonies (Algeria was officially three departments of France, not a colony) were given the choice between immediate independence and the new constitution.