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French Fifth Republic

The Fifth Republic is the current republican system of government in France, established on 4 October 1958 by Charles de Gaulle through the Constitution of the Fifth Republic. This era marked a significant shift, replacing the parliamentary republic of the Fourth Republic with a robust semi-presidential (or dual-executive) framework. This new structure divides power between a president, who serves as head of state, and a prime minister, who acts as head of government.

Charles de Gaulle, the very first French president elected under this new constitution in December 1958, envisioned the president as the embodiment of l'esprit de la nation, "the spirit of the nation." This philosophy imbued the presidency with significant authority. The president, under the Fifth Republic's design, possesses the power to dissolve the National Assembly and call for new parliamentary elections. If the president commands a majority in the National Assembly, they dictate domestic policy, with the prime minister tasked with its implementation. Furthermore, the president retains the prerogative to dismiss prime ministers and restructure the government at will during their term. A unique aspect arises when the National Assembly is controlled by a party or coalition different from the president's – a situation known as cohabitation. In such cases, the president is compelled to appoint a prime minister from the opposing political faction. Initially, presidential terms lasted seven years, with parliamentary elections held every five. However, a constitutional referendum in 2000 synchronized presidential and parliamentary elections to a five-year cycle, a pattern that persisted until the 2024 French snap election.

The Fifth Republic stands as France's third-longest-lasting political regime, surpassed only by the centuries-long hereditary, feudal monarchy of the Ancien Régime and the equally enduring Third Republic, which spanned from 4 September 1870 to 10 July 1940.

Origins

Instability of the Fourth Republic

The Fourth Republic, established in 1946, was plagued by chronic political instability. A fundamental lack of consensus among political parties, a conspicuously weak executive branch, and governments that dissolved with alarming frequency characterized its tenure. The inability of any single party or coalition to secure a stable parliamentary majority meant that prime ministers were constantly hesitant to enact unpopular but necessary reforms, fearing the immediate collapse of their administrations. This perpetual state of flux rendered effective governance a near impossibility.

France and its colonial empire (shown in blue)

May 1958 crisis

The immediate catalyst for the Fourth Republic's demise was the Algiers crisis of 1958. At this juncture, France still clung to its status as a colonial power, though the winds of decolonization were undeniably gaining force. Territories such as French West Africa, French Indochina, and particularly French Algeria, sent representatives to the French parliament under systems of limited suffrage within the French Union. Algeria, home to a substantial French population, experienced mounting pressure for independence from Metropolitan France. The situation was further complicated by the diverse populations within Algeria itself – European settlers, known as Pieds-Noirs, native Jews, and Harkis (Muslims loyal to France) – all of whom sought to maintain their ties to the French state. The Algerian War was thus not merely a fight for independence but also a bitter civil war.

Adding to the turmoil, a segment of the French Army mutinied, openly supporting the Algérie française movement in its opposition to separation. [6] It was in this charged atmosphere that Charles de Gaulle, who had largely withdrawn from political life a decade earlier, re-emerged. He positioned himself as the indispensable figure, calling for the suspension of the existing government and the creation of a new constitutional order. The parliament, paralyzed by internal divisions and facing widespread public unrest, proved incapable of forming a viable government. Ultimately, the last parliament of the Fourth Republic voted for its own dissolution and the convocation of a constitutional convention, paving the way for De Gaulle's return to power. [7]

Transitional period

De Gaulle and his allies championed a system that significantly bolstered the power of the president, who would be elected to a seven-year term. The proposed constitution vested executive authority in the president, who would govern in consultation with a prime minister appointed by him. On 1 June 1958, Charles de Gaulle was appointed head of the government; [8] a week later, on 3 June, a constitutional law granted his new government the authority to draft a new constitution of France [1] and, crucially, to rule by decree for a period of up to six months. This decree power, however, explicitly excluded matters of criminal law, electoral law, fundamental rights and freedoms, and trade union activities. [9] The proposed constitution garnered overwhelming support, with over 80% of voters approving it in the referendum of 28 September 1958. [10] The constitution was officially enacted on 4 October 1958, marking the transition from the Fourth to the Fifth Republic.

1958 constitution

The new constitution incorporated transitional provisions (articles 90–92) that extended the period of rule by decree until the newly established institutions were fully operational. René Coty, the final president of the Fourth Republic, continued in a transitional capacity until the election of the new president. On 21 December 1958, Charles de Gaulle was elected president of France by a specially convened electoral college. [12] The provisional constitutional commission, fulfilling the role of the Constitutional Council in this interim period, formally announced the election results on 9 January 1959. De Gaulle assumed office on that date and immediately appointed Michel Debré as prime minister.

A significant structural change introduced by the 1958 constitution was the replacement of the French Union with the French Community. This new arrangement allowed fourteen member territories, with the exception of Algeria, to exercise their sovereignty and declare independence. [13] The year 1960 became known as the "Year of Africa" due to the rapid succession of these newly independent states. [14] Algeria eventually achieved its independence on 5 July 1962.

Evolution

Election of the president

Initially, the president of the Republic was elected by an electoral college. However, in 1962, de Gaulle initiated a referendum proposing direct election of the president by universal suffrage. Despite considerable opposition from most political factions, save for the Gaullists, the proposal was approved by the French electorate. [15] The Constitutional Council, in a move that proved controversial, declined to rule on the constitutionality of the referendum itself. [16]

The presidential term, originally seven years, was shortened to five years following a constitutional referendum in 2000. This change was intended to reduce the likelihood of cohabitation arising from the disparity in the electoral cycles of the National Assembly and the presidency. Presidential elections are now conducted using a two-round system: if a candidate secures an absolute majority in the first round, they are declared president-elect. Otherwise, the two candidates with the highest vote counts proceed to a second round.

Separation of powers

The 1970s witnessed two pivotal developments in the realm of constitutional checks and balances. [17] Historically, France operated under the principle of parliamentary sovereignty, meaning no institution possessed the authority to scrutinize whether laws passed by Parliament adhered to the constitutional rights of citizens. [18] However, in 1971, the Constitutional Council asserted a new interpretative power. Citing the constitution's preamble, which referenced the fundamental rights enshrined in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen and the preamble of the 1946 constitution, the Council declared that all statutes must respect these rights. This led to a law being partially invalidated for infringing upon freedom of association. [19]

Initially, the power to request a constitutional review was limited to the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, or the presidents of either parliamentary chamber. This restricted the frequency of such reviews, particularly when the executive and legislative branches were aligned. A significant constitutional amendment in 1974 broadened this prerogative, allowing sixty members of the National Assembly or sixty members of the Senate to initiate a review. [20] This reform empowered the political opposition to challenge controversial legislation before it became law, ensuring greater scrutiny and a more balanced distribution of power. [21]

Presidents of the Fifth Republic

  Socialist (PS)

•   Centrist (CD)

•   Centrist (REM)

•   Republican (UDF)

•   Gaullist (UDR; RPR)

•   Neo-Gaullist (UMP)

No. President Lived From To Party
1 Charles de Gaulle 1890–1970 8 January 1959 28 April 1969 (resigned) Independent
– Alain Poher 1909–1996 28 April 1969 15 June 1969 (interim) CD
2 Georges Pompidou 1911–1974 15 June 1969 2 April 1974 (died in office) UDR
– Alain Poher 1909–1996 2 April 1974 19 May 1974 (interim) CD
3 Valéry Giscard d'Estaing 1926–2020 19 May 1974 21 May 1981 UDF
4 François Mitterrand 1916–1996 21 May 1981 17 May 1995 Socialist
5 Jacques Chirac 1932–2019 17 May 1995 16 May 2007 RPR then UMP
6 Nicolas Sarkozy b. 1955 16 May 2007 15 May 2012 UMP
7 François Hollande b. 1954 15 May 2012 14 May 2017 Socialist
8 Emmanuel Macron b. 1977 14 May 2017 Incumbent REM

Source: "Les présidents de la République depuis 1848" [Presidents of the Republic Since 1848] (in French). Présidence de la République française.

President image gallery

• Charles de Gaulle (1890–1970) Served 1959–1969 • Alain Poher (1909–1996) Served 1969, 1974 (as interim) • Georges Pompidou (1911–1974) Served 1969–1974 • Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1926–2020) Served 1974–1981 • François Mitterrand (1916–1996) Served 1981–1995 • Jacques Chirac (1932–2019) Served 1995–2007 • Nicolas Sarkozy (b. 1955) Served 2007–2012 • François Hollande (b. 1954) Served 2012–2017 • Emmanuel Macron (b. 1977) Incumbent since May 2017

Prime Ministers of the Fifth Republic

• Main article: List of Prime Ministers of France § Fifth French Republic (1958–present)

  Socialist (PS)

•   Centrist (RE)

•   Republican (UDF)

•   Gaullist (UNR; UDR; RPR)

•   Neo-Gaullist (UMP; LR)

Name Term start Term end Political party President
Michel Debré 8 January 1959 14 April 1962 UNR Charles de Gaulle (1959–1969)
Georges Pompidou 14 April 1962 10 July 1968 UNR then UDR
Maurice Couve de Murville 10 July 1968 20 June 1969 UDR
Jacques Chaban-Delmas 20 June 1969 6 July 1972 UDR Georges Pompidou (1969–1974)
Pierre Messmer 6 July 1972 27 May 1974 UDR
Jacques Chirac (1st term) 27 May 1974 26 August 1976 UDR Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1974–1981)
Raymond Barre 26 August 1976 21 May 1981 Independent
Pierre Mauroy 21 May 1981 17 July 1984 Socialist François Mitterrand (1981–1995)
Laurent Fabius 17 July 1984 20 March 1986 Socialist
Jacques Chirac (2nd term) 20 March 1986 10 May 1988 RPR
Michel Rocard 10 May 1988 15 May 1991 Socialist
Édith Cresson 15 May 1991 2 April 1992 Socialist
Pierre Bérégovoy 2 April 1992 29 March 1993 Socialist
Édouard Balladur 29 March 1993 18 May 1995 RPR
Alain Juppé 18 May 1995 3 June 1997 RPR Jacques Chirac (1995–2007)
Lionel Jospin 3 June 1997 6 May 2002 Socialist
Jean-Pierre Raffarin 6 May 2002 31 May 2005 UMP
Dominique de Villepin 31 May 2005 17 May 2007 UMP
François Fillon 17 May 2007 15 May 2012 UMP Nicolas Sarkozy (2007–2012)
Jean-Marc Ayrault 15 May 2012 31 March 2014 Socialist François Hollande (2012–2017)
Manuel Valls 31 March 2014 6 December 2016 Socialist
Bernard Cazeneuve 6 December 2016 10 May 2017 Socialist
Édouard Philippe 15 May 2017 3 July 2020 LR then Independent Emmanuel Macron (since 2017)
Jean Castex 3 July 2020 16 May 2022 RE
Élisabeth Borne 16 May 2022 9 January 2024 RE
Gabriel Attal 9 January 2024 5 September 2024 RE
Michel Barnier 5 September 2024 13 December 2024 LR
François Bayrou 13 December 2024 9 September 2025 MoDem
Sébastien Lecornu 9 September 2025 TBD [c] RE

Source: "Former Prime Ministers of the Fifth Republic". Government of France.

Institutions of the Fifth Republic

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Institutions of the Fifth Republic

Timeline diagram

See also

Notes