1. Political institutions
France:
Political institutions

2. The Fifth Republic Unitary Semi-presidential:
divided into 21 regions and 95 departments
Semi-presidential:
President (head of state) is directly elected for five year terms (until 2002, seven years)
Premier (head of government, is appointed by the President, but must retain the confidence of the National Assembly (lower house of a bi-cameral parliament

3. France and its regimes:
1rst Empire ( ) -- Napoleon
Monarchy ( )
2nd Empire ( ) Louis Napoleon
Vichy Republic ( ) [puppet regime in unoccupied south}
1rst Republic ( )
2nd Republic ( )
3rd Republic ( )
4th Republic ( )
5th Republic (1958-present)

4. Origins of the 5th Republic
Liberation in 1944 > constitutional debate
General Charles de Gaulle, Leader of the Free French Army, argues that France needs strong leadership and a presidential regime:
The President, according to de Gaulle, must be above politics, the ‘arbiter’ of the constitution
Resistance forces and political parties (Communists, Socialists, Christian Democrats) favour a parliamentary regime
4th Republic established in 1946

5. 4th Republic Extreme multipartyism – Problems of cabinet instability:
6-8 parties represented in the National Assembly
Parties differ with each other
Have weak internal discipline
Problems of cabinet instability:
from , a total of 26 cabinets
longest in office for 1.5 years, shortest 2-3 days
Problems of de-colonization
Indochina
Algeria

6. From 4th to 5th Republic The Algerian crisis (1958):
France is trying to keep Algeria French
Army, defeated in Indochina, is bogged down
Paratroopers threaten to invade metropolitan France unless General De Gaulle brought back to power
Politicians summon De Gaulle
De Gaulle returns on the condition that he can propose a new constitution
Does so, new constitution approved overwhelmingly in a referendum (80% in favour)

7. The Fifth Republic
Constitution written for De Gaulle & to correct problems of the 3rd & 4th Republics
Strengthens the executive by
giving the premier constitutional powers equivalent to those enjoyed by a British Prime Minister
However in a multiparty context….
Weakening the National Assembly and limiting its ability to block or remove the premier
Not expected to outlast De Gaulle, but…

8. Features: Presidential: Parliamentary:
President initially indirectly elected, above politics
From 1962, directly elected for 7 year term (from 2002, 5 years)
Parliamentary:
Premier, appointed by president, can be censured and removed by an absolute majority of the National Assembly (lower house)
Thus semi-presidential – a hybrid regime

9. Presidential elections
President is elected in a two ballot or runoff system:
To be elected on the first ballot, a candidate must win an absolute majority (50%+1) of the vote cast
If no candidate wins on the first ballot, a second ballot is held 2 weeks later:
Lower candidates are dropped
Candidate with the most votes wins

10. Elections to the National Assembly
Deputies are elected in single member districts on a two ballot or runoff system
In order to be elected on the first ballot, a candidate must win an absolute majority
If no candidate has an absolute majority, then a second runoff ballot is held one week later
Candidates winning less than 12.5 % (1/8) are dropped
Candidate with the most votes – a plurality – wins

11. The Fifth Republic in practice
New constitution provides political stability, governments which can govern
New regime is semi-presidential:
Can be dominated by strong presidents if they command a majority in the National Assembly
However, president’s ability to lead or dominate weakens if opposition parties have a majority:
If so, results in cohabitation – a form of power-sharing