Chapter Nine Politics in France Comparative Politics Today, 9/e Almond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm Pearson Education, Inc. publishing as Longman © 2008

Country Bio: France  Pop: 60.4 million  Territory: 211,208 sq. miles  Year of Independence: 486  Year of Current Constitution: 1958  Head of State: President Jacques Chirac  Head of Government: Prime Minister Dominque De Villepin  Language: French 100%  Pop: 60.4 million  Territory: 211,208 sq. miles  Year of Independence: 486  Year of Current Constitution: 1958  Head of State: President Jacques Chirac  Head of Government: Prime Minister Dominque De Villepin  Language: French 100%  Religion:  Roman Catholic: 89.5%  Muslim: 7.5%  Protestant: 2%  Jewish: 1%

Current Policy Challenges  2006: French voters were worried about unemployment, crime, and urban violence.  Have had high unemployment rates  Questions regarding French membership in the European Union  Concerned about political corruption  Issues of multiculturalism  Anti-American sentiment  2006: French voters were worried about unemployment, crime, and urban violence.  Have had high unemployment rates  Questions regarding French membership in the European Union  Concerned about political corruption  Issues of multiculturalism  Anti-American sentiment

Historical Perspective  One of the oldest nation-states of Europe  French Revolution began with the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in 1791 (the First Republic)  Three more constitutions  Napoleon  Restoration of Bourbons  House of Orleans  Paris Revolution in 1848  One of the oldest nation-states of Europe  French Revolution began with the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in 1791 (the First Republic)  Three more constitutions  Napoleon  Restoration of Bourbons  House of Orleans  Paris Revolution in 1848

Historical Perspective  Second Republic ( )  Universal male suffrage  Napoleon III  Franco Prussian War  Third Republic (1871)  WWII deeply divided France  Charles de Gaulle  Fourth Republic ( )  24 governments in 12 years  Fifth Republic (1958 onward)  Second Republic ( )  Universal male suffrage  Napoleon III  Franco Prussian War  Third Republic (1871)  WWII deeply divided France  Charles de Gaulle  Fourth Republic ( )  24 governments in 12 years  Fifth Republic (1958 onward)

Economy and Society  Mixed geography  More than 3.6 million non-citizens live in France (North Africa and Africa)  2 million French citizens are foreign born  Urbanization came slowly  Most of the urban population lives in and around Paris  Strong economic development  Ranks among the wealthiest of advanced industrial countries  Inflation and unemployment  Labor force changes  Agriculture  Privatization  Mixed geography  More than 3.6 million non-citizens live in France (North Africa and Africa)  2 million French citizens are foreign born  Urbanization came slowly  Most of the urban population lives in and around Paris  Strong economic development  Ranks among the wealthiest of advanced industrial countries  Inflation and unemployment  Labor force changes  Agriculture  Privatization

Constitution and Governmental Structure  Constitution of 1958  Parliamentary government  The Executive  President of the Republic  Placed above parties  Worked with Parliament, the Cabinet, the people  Could appeal to the people in two ways:  Submit legislation to the electorate for referendum  Could dissolve Parliament and call for new elections  Presidential powers used sparingly  Emergency power  Direct popular elections  Prime minister  Constitution of 1958  Parliamentary government  The Executive  President of the Republic  Placed above parties  Worked with Parliament, the Cabinet, the people  Could appeal to the people in two ways:  Submit legislation to the electorate for referendum  Could dissolve Parliament and call for new elections  Presidential powers used sparingly  Emergency power  Direct popular elections  Prime minister

The Legislature  Composed of two houses  National Assembly  577 members  Elected directly for 5 years by all citizens over 18  Committees/specialized deputies  Senate  331 members  Elected indirectly from department constituencies for a term of six years  Half every three years  Two houses are not equal in either power or influence  Composed of two houses  National Assembly  577 members  Elected directly for 5 years by all citizens over 18  Committees/specialized deputies  Senate  331 members  Elected indirectly from department constituencies for a term of six years  Half every three years  Two houses are not equal in either power or influence

The Judiciary  Until the Fifth Republic, France had no judicial check on the constitutionality of the actions of its political authorities.  Constitutional Council  Safeguard against legislative erosion  Constitutional amendment in 1974  Until the Fifth Republic, France had no judicial check on the constitutionality of the actions of its political authorities.  Constitutional Council  Safeguard against legislative erosion  Constitutional amendment in 1974

Political Culture  Themes in political culture  The burden of history  Abstraction and symbolism  Distrust of government and history  Themes in political culture  The burden of history  Abstraction and symbolism  Distrust of government and history

Religious and Antireligious Traditions  Both Catholic and “dechristianized”  Conflict between the two  Revolution of 1789  Political right and left determined by attitudes toward the Catholic Church  Secularization  French Jews  Protestants  Muslims  New immigration  Both Catholic and “dechristianized”  Conflict between the two  Revolution of 1789  Political right and left determined by attitudes toward the Catholic Church  Secularization  French Jews  Protestants  Muslims  New immigration

Class and Status  Social class  Workers/working class  Strong feelings regarding belonging to a social class  Class conscious  Willing to demonstrate  Traditional class differences reinforced by growing sense of racial and ethnic differences  Social class  Workers/working class  Strong feelings regarding belonging to a social class  Class conscious  Willing to demonstrate  Traditional class differences reinforced by growing sense of racial and ethnic differences

Political Socialization  Family  Associations  Education  Baccalaureat  Open admission  Grandes ecoles  Socialization and communication  Mass media  Decline in newspaper readership  Television  Family  Associations  Education  Baccalaureat  Open admission  Grandes ecoles  Socialization and communication  Mass media  Decline in newspaper readership  Television

Recruitment and Style of Elites  Political class  Modest social origins  Changes in political recruitment  Civil service  Grand corps  Hereditary class  Tight network  Political class  Modest social origins  Changes in political recruitment  Civil service  Grand corps  Hereditary class  Tight network

Importance of Gender  Low representation of women among French political elites  Political advancement requires deep investment in parties  Segolene Royal  Graduate of the ENA  Member of the Council of State  Dearth of women’s representation recognized but not addressed  Low representation of women among French political elites  Political advancement requires deep investment in parties  Segolene Royal  Graduate of the ENA  Member of the Council of State  Dearth of women’s representation recognized but not addressed

Interest Groups: The Expression of Interests  No more than 8 percent of workers belonged to trade unions  Decline  Economic groups surge during dramatic moments in history  Most groups have limited resources  Labor movement  Business interests  Agricultural interests  No more than 8 percent of workers belonged to trade unions  Decline  Economic groups surge during dramatic moments in history  Most groups have limited resources  Labor movement  Business interests  Agricultural interests

Means of Access and Styles of Action  Parliament  Most convenient means to access  Constitution of 1958  Neocorporatism  Professional organizations versus interest groups  State interest group collaboration  French state subsidizes interest groups  Protests  Parliament  Most convenient means to access  Constitution of 1958  Neocorporatism  Professional organizations versus interest groups  State interest group collaboration  French state subsidizes interest groups  Protests

Parties: The Traditional Party System  Right and left  Electoral system of the Fifth Republic favors simplification of political alignments  French party organizations skeletal  Fragmentary  Modest linkage between national and local  Party membership low  Party system became more competitive in 1980s  Main political parties dominate the organization of parliamentary work and the selection of candidates  Less important as mass membership organizations  Right and left  Electoral system of the Fifth Republic favors simplification of political alignments  French party organizations skeletal  Fragmentary  Modest linkage between national and local  Party membership low  Party system became more competitive in 1980s  Main political parties dominate the organization of parliamentary work and the selection of candidates  Less important as mass membership organizations

The Main Parties: The Right and Center  Union for a Popular Movement  Union for French Democracy  The National Front  Union for a Popular Movement  Union for French Democracy  The National Front

The Left  The Socialist Party  Lionel Jospin  Plural left  Cumul des mandats  The Communists  French Communist Party  Georges Marchais  Marie-George Buffet  The Socialist Party  Lionel Jospin  Plural left  Cumul des mandats  The Communists  French Communist Party  Georges Marchais  Marie-George Buffet

Patterns of Voting  France- unitary state  Elections held with considerable frequency at every territorial level  Communes  First European country to enfranchise a mass electorate  Women age 21 and older granted the vote in 1944  Voting age lowered to 18 in 1974  France- unitary state  Elections held with considerable frequency at every territorial level  Communes  First European country to enfranchise a mass electorate  Women age 21 and older granted the vote in 1944  Voting age lowered to 18 in 1974

Electoral Participation and Abstention  Rising abstention  Voters’ confidence in all parties has declined  Abstention cyclical  Few permanent abstainers  Voting  In parliamentary election  In referendums  In presidential elections  Rising abstention  Voters’ confidence in all parties has declined  Abstention cyclical  Few permanent abstainers  Voting  In parliamentary election  In referendums  In presidential elections

Policy Processes: The Executive  Two-headed executive  President derives authority from direct popular elections  Prime minister from majority support in the National Assembly  Long years of political affinity between the holders of the two offices solidified and amplified presidential powers and shaped constitutional powers that had a lasting impact  From the beginning of the Fifth Republic, the president was not only formally appointed to Parliament the prime minister proposed to him, but he also chose the prime minister and the other Cabinet ministers.  Since all powers proceeded from the president, the government headed by the prime minister became an administrative body until  Council of Ministers – chaired by the president  Two-headed executive  President derives authority from direct popular elections  Prime minister from majority support in the National Assembly  Long years of political affinity between the holders of the two offices solidified and amplified presidential powers and shaped constitutional powers that had a lasting impact  From the beginning of the Fifth Republic, the president was not only formally appointed to Parliament the prime minister proposed to him, but he also chose the prime minister and the other Cabinet ministers.  Since all powers proceeded from the president, the government headed by the prime minister became an administrative body until  Council of Ministers – chaired by the president

Policy Processes: The Executive  Prime minister is more than first among equals  Cohabitation  and from : conservative majority controlled Parliament and the president was a Socialist  1997 to 2002: left held parliamentary majority and the president was from a conservative party  President continued to occupy the foreground in foreign and military affairs.  Prime minister became the effective leader of the executive and pursued government objectives.  Prime minister is more than first among equals  Cohabitation  and from : conservative majority controlled Parliament and the president was a Socialist  1997 to 2002: left held parliamentary majority and the president was from a conservative party  President continued to occupy the foreground in foreign and military affairs.  Prime minister became the effective leader of the executive and pursued government objectives.

Policy Processes: The Executive  Limits to executive power  Role of policy failures  Other ministers’ involvement  Role of networks  Two different patterns exist for sharing executive power  When majorities are identical; prime minister is subordinate  Under conditions of cohabitation, the prime minister clearly gains dominant authority at the expense of the president.  Limits to executive power  Role of policy failures  Other ministers’ involvement  Role of networks  Two different patterns exist for sharing executive power  When majorities are identical; prime minister is subordinate  Under conditions of cohabitation, the prime minister clearly gains dominant authority at the expense of the president.

Policy Processes: The Parliament  Constitution curtains the powers of Parliament:  As a source of legislation  As an organ of executive control  Blocked vote, Article 44  Ordinances, Article 38  Motion of censure, Article 49, Section 3  Used infrequently; virtually excludes Parliament from meaningful participation in the legislative process  Constitution curtains the powers of Parliament:  As a source of legislation  As an organ of executive control  Blocked vote, Article 44  Ordinances, Article 38  Motion of censure, Article 49, Section 3  Used infrequently; virtually excludes Parliament from meaningful participation in the legislative process

Policy Processes: The Parliament  Devices for enhancing the role of Parliament  Extended sessions  Weekly question period  Television cameras  Power to amend  General support that French citizens give their elected deputies  Role of Senate  Delay legislation  Some situations where their accord is necessary  Constitutional amendment  Criticisms of the Senate  Devices for enhancing the role of Parliament  Extended sessions  Weekly question period  Television cameras  Power to amend  General support that French citizens give their elected deputies  Role of Senate  Delay legislation  Some situations where their accord is necessary  Constitutional amendment  Criticisms of the Senate

Checks and Balances  No tradition of judicial review  Constitutional Council  Considerable impact  Judicial restraint  Council of State  No tradition of judicial review  Constitutional Council  Considerable impact  Judicial restraint  Council of State

The State and Territorial Relations  Unitary state  France divided into 100 departments (about the size of a U.S. county)  Each is under the administrative responsibility of a prefect and has a directly elected general council.  Grouped into 22 regions  Centralization versus the process of decentralization  Powers  Unitary state  France divided into 100 departments (about the size of a U.S. county)  Each is under the administrative responsibility of a prefect and has a directly elected general council.  Grouped into 22 regions  Centralization versus the process of decentralization  Powers

Performance and Prospects: A Welfare State  France has a mediocre record for spreading benefits among all its citizens.  Emergence of long term unemployment  France has a mediocre record for spreading benefits among all its citizens.  Emergence of long term unemployment

Performance and Prospects: A Welfare State  Concentration of wealth  Distribution of taxes: the share of indirect taxes – such as the VAT and excise taxes- remains far higher in France than in other industrialized countries  Indirect taxes not only drive up prices but also weigh most heavily on the poor.  Most effective in the area of social transfers  Relatively low poverty rates  High level of quality medical services and public services  Concentration of wealth  Distribution of taxes: the share of indirect taxes – such as the VAT and excise taxes- remains far higher in France than in other industrialized countries  Indirect taxes not only drive up prices but also weigh most heavily on the poor.  Most effective in the area of social transfers  Relatively low poverty rates  High level of quality medical services and public services

Nationalization and Regulation  Government-operated business enterprises  Railroads; almost all energy production; and much of the telecommunication; most air and maritime transport; most of the aeronautic industry; 85 percent of bank deposits; 40 percent of insurance premiums; one-third of the auto industry, and one-third of the housing industry  Privatization  Deregulation of the economy  Other areas of regulation  Environment  immigration  Government-operated business enterprises  Railroads; almost all energy production; and much of the telecommunication; most air and maritime transport; most of the aeronautic industry; 85 percent of bank deposits; 40 percent of insurance premiums; one-third of the auto industry, and one-third of the housing industry  Privatization  Deregulation of the economy  Other areas of regulation  Environment  immigration

Outlook: France and the New Architecture of Europe  Main concerns that dominated French politics 30 years ago have changed dramatically.  Political cleavages based on new conflicts are emerging.  Immigration  Cold War  Common Market  Rejection of the European Constitutional Treaty  Problem of identity in an expanding European Union and an independent world  Main concerns that dominated French politics 30 years ago have changed dramatically.  Political cleavages based on new conflicts are emerging.  Immigration  Cold War  Common Market  Rejection of the European Constitutional Treaty  Problem of identity in an expanding European Union and an independent world