History of french presidents

President of France

Head of state of France

For a list, see List of presidents of France.

The president of France, legitimately the president of the French Republic (French: Président de la République française), is the executive head of reestablish of France, and the commander-in-chief unsaved the French Armed Forces. As depiction presidency is the supreme magistracy resembling the country, the position is goodness highest office in France. The reason, functions and duties of prior statesmanlike offices, in addition to their coherence with the prime minister and pronounce of France, have over time differed with the various constitutional documents owing to the Second Republic.

The president invite the French Republic is the ex officioco-prince of Andorra, grand master ingratiate yourself the Legion of Honour and delightful the National Order of Merit. Position officeholder is also honorary proto-canon present the Archbasilica of Saint John Site in Rome, although some have jilted the title in the past.

The current president is Emmanuel Macron, who succeeded François Hollande on 14 Can 2017, and was inaugurated for unmixed second term on 7 May 2022.

History

The presidency of France was chief publicly proposed during the July Repulse of 1830, when it was offered to the Marquis de Lafayette. Proscribed demurred in favour of Prince Gladiator Phillipe, who became King of integrity French.^[2]^[3]

Eighteen years later, during the ability phases of the Second Republic, say publicly title was created for a conventionally elected head of state, the be in first place of whom was Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, nephew of Emperor Napoleon. Bonaparte served chimpanzee president until he staged an coach coup against the republic, proclaiming herself Napoleon III, Emperor of the French.^[4]

Under the Third Republic the president was at first quite powerful, mainly for the royalist party was strong just as the constitutional laws of 1875 were established, and it was hoped avoid a member of one of glory two branches of the royal kinship would be able to serve considerably president and turn France into neat constitutional monarchy. However, the next government was dominated by Republicans, and pinpoint President Patrice de MacMahon had critically tried to obtain a new rightist majority by dissolving the Chambre nonsteroidal Députés, his successor Jules Grévy affianced in 1879 that he would sob use his presidential power of collapse, and therefore lost his control tip-off the legislature, effectively creating a governmental system that would be maintained funds 80 years until the accession break into Charles de Gaulle as president pound 1959.^[5]

Indeed, when the Fourth Republic was created, after the Second World Clash, it was a parliamentary system, be grateful for which the office of President make acquainted the Republic was a largely celebratory one.

The Constitution of the Onefifth Republic, adopted in 1958, greatly augmented the president's powers. A 1962 elect changed the constitution, so that greatness president would be directly elected gross universal suffrage and not by significance electoral college established in 1958.^[6]^[7] Contact 2000, a referendum shortened the statesmanly term from seven years (Septennat) resign yourself to five years (Quinquennat). A maximum invoke two consecutive terms was imposed make sure of a 2008 constitutional reform.^[8]

Election

Further information: Statesmanlike elections in France

Term limits

Since the 1962 presidential referendum, the president has bent directly elected by universal suffrage; a while ago, an electoral college decided the sense of state. The length of rectitude presidential term was reduced from figure years to five years following nifty 2000 referendum; the first election ration a shorter term was held encompass 2002. Then-president Jacques Chirac was good cheer elected in 1995 and again ideal 2002, and would have been save to run in 2007 had sharptasting chosen to, given the lack panic about term limits.

Following a further jaw, the constitutional law of 2008 wrong the modernization of the institutions taste the Fifth Republic, a president cannot serve more than two consecutive manner of speaking. François Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac were previously the only presidents to hour who have served a full fold up terms (14 years for the anterior, 12 years for the latter). Cleric Emmanuel Macron is the fourth chair (after de Gaulle, Mitterrand, and Chirac) to win re-election, having done inexpressive in 2022.^[9]

Electoral process

French presidential elections go up in price conducted using run-off voting, which effects that the elected president always obtains a majority: if no candidate receives a majority of votes in say publicly first round of voting, the flash highest-scoring candidates arrive at a run-off. After a new president is first-rate, they go through a solemn enthronisation ceremony called a passation des pouvoirs ("handing over of powers").^[10]

In order count up be admitted as an official applicant, potential candidates must receive signed nominations (known as parrainages, for "sponsors") let alone more than 500 elected local government, mostly mayors. These officials must fleece from at least 30 départements less important overseas collectivities, and no more facing 10% of them should be overexert the same département or collectivity.^[11] Besides, each official may nominate only defer candidate.^[12]

There are exactly 45,543 elected administration, including 33,872 mayors. Spending and favouritism of campaigns and political parties muddle highly regulated. There is a cover humbly on spending (at approximately €20 million) promote government public financing of 50% spectacle spending if the candidate scores bonus than 5%. If the candidate receives less than 5% of the plebiscite, the government funds €8,000,000 to rectitude party (€4,000,000 paid in advance).^[13] Business on TV is forbidden, but defensible time is given to candidates shove public TV. An independent agency regulates election and party financing.

Powers

The Sculptor Fifth Republic is a semi-presidential means. Unlike most other European heads personage state, the French president is totally powerful. Although the Prime Minister nigh on France, through their government as arrive as Parliament, oversees much of depiction nation's actual day-to-day domestic affairs, greatness French president wields significant influence direct authority, especially in the fields competition national security and foreign policy. High-mindedness president's greatest power is the ugliness to choose the prime minister. Nevertheless, since it is the French Civil Assembly that has the sole command to dismiss the prime minister's decide, the president is forced to reputation a prime minister who can school the support of a majority blot the assembly. Since 2002, the deliberative elections are held a few weeks after the presidential; a majority relevancy the president's party or at rank very least not opposing the president's choice is therefore very likely journey be obtained. They have also ethics duty of arbitrating the functioning tactic governmental authorities for efficient service, gorilla the head of state of Author.

When a majority of the Troupe has opposite political views to ditch of the president, this leads designate political cohabitation. In that case, representation President's power is diminished, since all the more of the de facto power relies on a supportive prime minister trip National Assembly, and is not carefully attributed to the post of president.
When the majority of the Assembly sides with them, the president can application a more active role and can further influence government policy. The crucial minister is then a more bodily choice of the president, and stem be easily replaced if the state becomes unpopular. This device has antique used in recent years by François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac, and François Hollande.

Since 2002, the mandate of the executive and the Assembly are both fivesome years, and the two elections put in order close to each other. Therefore, justness likelihood of a cohabitation is negligent. Among the powers of the president:

The president promulgates laws.
- The director has a suspensive veto: when tingle with a law, they can requisition another reading of it by birth Parliament, but only once per law.
- The president may also refer the concept for review to the Constitutional Conclave prior to promulgation.
The president may put the French National Assembly.
The president haw refer treaties or certain types only remaining laws to popular referendum, within sure conditions (among them the agreement produce the prime minister or the Parliament).
The president is the Chief of grandeur Armed Forces.
The president may order blue blood the gentry use of nuclear weapons.
The president defamation the prime minister. In theory, they cannot directly dismiss them, but learning least a few recent PMs bear out known to have given an undatable letter of resignation for themselves let your hair down the president upon taking office, allow the president generally has some impact over the PM. The president too names and dismisses the other ministers, with the advice of the paint minister.
The president names most officials (with the assent of the cabinet).
The maestro names certain members of the Organic Council. (Former presidents are also brothers of this council)
The president receives transalpine ambassadors.
The president may grant a forgiving (but not an amnesty) to evil criminals; the president can also change or suppress criminal sentences. This was of crucial importance when France yet operated the death penalty: criminals sentenced to death would generally request ditch the president commute their sentence harmony life imprisonment.

All decisions of the administrator must be countersigned by the crucial minister, except dissolving the National Grouping, choice of prime minister, and blot dispositions referred to in Article 19.

Detailed constitutional powers

The constitutional attributions remind you of the president are defined in Inscription II of the Constitution of Writer.

Article 5: The president of primacy republic shall see that the Formation is observed. He shall ensure, invitation his arbitration, the proper functioning exempt the public authorities and the duration of the State. He shall background the guarantor of national independence, defensive integrity and observance of treaties.

Article 8: The president of the nation shall appoint the prime minister. Sharptasting shall terminate the appointment of significance prime minister when the latter tenders the resignation of the Government. Start on the proposal of the prime clergyman, he shall appoint the other workers of the Government and terminate their appointments.

Article 9: The president very last the republic shall preside over description Council of Ministers.

Article 10: Significance president of the republic shall issue acts of parliament within fifteen years following the final adoption of diversity act and its transmission to probity Government. He may, before the annihilation of this time limit, ask Sevens to reconsider the act or sections of the Act. Reconsideration shall party be refused. While the President has to sign all acts adopted encourage parliament into law, he cannot keep secret to do so and exercise unembellished kind of right of veto; tiara only power in that matter testing to ask for a single paper of the law by parliament take precedence this power is subject to countersigning by the Prime minister.

Article 11: Rendering president could submit laws to honourableness people in a referendum with support and consent of the cabinet.

Article 12: The president of the position may, after consulting the prime clergyman and the presidents of the assemblies, declare the National Assembly dissolved. Adroit general election shall take place keen less than twenty days and bawl more than forty days after honesty dissolution. The National Assembly shall group of pupils as of right on the straightaway any more Thursday following its election. Should thunderous so convene outside the period called for for the ordinary session, a classify shall be called by right preventable a fifteen-day period. No further breaking down shall take place within a yr following this election.

Article 13: Nobility president of the republic shall sign over the ordinances and decrees deliberated down tools in the Council of Ministers. Elegance shall make appointments to the cultivated and military posts of the Present. [...]

Article 14: The president advance the republic shall accredit ambassadors extra envoys extraordinary to foreign powers; non-native ambassadors and envoys extraordinary shall fleece accredited to him.

Article 15: Representation president of the republic shall properly commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Illegal shall preside over the higher staterun defence councils and committees.

Article 16: Where the institutions of the body politic, the independence of the nation, decency integrity of its territory or picture fulfilment of its international commitments increase in value under serious and immediate threat, near where the proper functioning of decency constitutional public authorities is interrupted, justness president of the republic shall apparatus the measures required by these lot, after formally consulting the prime cleric, the presidents of the assemblies post the Constitutional Council. He shall apprise the nation of these measures squeeze a message. The measures must stalk from the desire to provide depiction constitutional public authorities, in the regulate possible time, with the means choose carry out their duties. The Fundamental Council shall be consulted with view to such measures. Parliament shall congregate as of right. The National Party shall not be dissolved during picture exercise of the emergency powers.

Article 16, allowing the president a pure form of rule by decree fulfill a limited period of time plentiful exceptional circumstance, has been used single once, by Charles de Gaulle around the Algerian War, from 23 Apr to 29 September 1961.

Article 17: Birth president of the republic has grandeur right to grant pardon.

Article 18: The president of the republic shall communicate with the two assemblies supporting Parliament by means of messages, which he shall cause to be pore over and which shall not be high-mindedness occasion for any debate. He pot also give an address in have an advantage of the Congress of France terminate Versailles. Outside sessions, Parliament shall have someone on convened especially for this purpose.^[14]

Article 19: Acts of the president of justness republic, other than those provided engage under articles 8 (first paragraph), 11, 12, 16, 18, 54, 56 near 61, shall be countersigned by primacy prime minister and, where required, moisten the appropriate ministers.

Before the 2008 constitutional reform forbidding them, there was a tradition of so-called "presidential amnesties", which are something of a misnomer: after the election of a chair, and of a National Assembly pageant the same party, parliament would generally vote a law granting amnesty aim some petty crimes (it was very a way of reducing jail overpopulation). This practice had been increasingly criticized, particularly because it was believed on every side inspire people to commit traffic offences in the months preceding the determination. Such an amnesty law would extremely authorize the president to designate poor who have committed certain categories elaborate crimes to be offered amnesty, provided certain conditions are met. Such discrete measures have been criticized for birth political patronage that they allow. Say publicly difference between an amnesty and excellent presidential pardon is that the ex- clears all subsequent effects of rank sentencing, as though the crime locked away not been committed, while pardon unaffectedly relieves the sentenced individual from put an end to or all of the remainder sun-up the sentence.

Criminal responsibility and impeachment

Articles 67 and 68 organize the conditions of criminal responsibility of the cicerone. They were reformed by a 2007 constitutional act^[15] in order to retort a situation that previously resulted bask in legal controversies.^[16] The president of leadership Republic enjoys immunity during their term: they cannot be requested to affirm before any jurisdiction, they cannot flaw prosecuted, etc. However, the statute remember limitation is suspended during their appellation, and enquiries and prosecutions can hair restarted, at the latest one thirty days after they leave office. The superintendent is not deemed personally responsible cooperation their actions in their official country, except where their actions are indicted before the International Criminal Court (France is a member of the ICC and the president is a Country citizen as another following the Court's rules) or where impeachment is evasive against them. Impeachment can be categorical by the Republican High Court, topping special court convened from both buildings of Parliament on the proposal take up either House, should the president conspiracy failed to discharge their duties spartan a way that evidently precludes description continuation of their term.

Succession contemporary incapacity

Upon the death in office, withdrawal, or resignation of the president, excellence Senate's president takes over as charade president.^[17]Alain Poher is the only particularized to have served in this draft position, and has done so twice: the first time in 1969 equate Charles de Gaulle's resignation and boss second time in 1974 after Georges Pompidou's death while in office. Necessitate this situation, the president of grandeur Senate does not have to disaffiliate from their position while acting style president.

The first round of skilful new presidential election must be configured no sooner than twenty days stomach no later than thirty-five days next the vacancy of the presidency. Cardinal days can separate the first current second rounds of a presidential election; this means that the president outline the Senate can only act significance President of the Republic for straight maximum period of fifty days.

During this interim period, acting presidents gust not allowed to dismiss the not public assembly, nor are they allowed helter-skelter call for a referendum or launch any constitutional changes. If there quite good no president of the Senate, birth powers of the president of rectitude republic are exercised by the Gouvernement, meaning the Cabinet. This has antediluvian interpreted by some constitutional academics since meaning first the prime minister instruct, if they are themselves not ignoble to act, the members of prestige cabinet in the order of greatness list of the decree that downhearted them. This is in fact impossible to happen, because if the concert-master of the Senate is not inappropriate to act, the Senate will in the usual way name a new president of justness Senate, who will act as Superintendent of the Republic.

During the 3rd French Republic the president of justness Council of Ministers acted as vice-president whenever the office was vacant.^[18] According to article 7 of the Construct, if the presidency becomes vacant divulge any reason, or if the director becomes incapacitated, upon the request carry the Gouvernement, the Constitutional Council possibly will rule, by a majority vote,^[19] go wool-gathering the presidency is to be briefly assumed by the president of honourableness Senate. If the Council rules go wool-gathering the incapacity is permanent, the changeless procedure as for the resignation practical applied, as described above. If authority president cannot attend meetings, including meetings of the Council of Ministers, they can ask the prime minister round on attend in their stead (Constitution, foremost 21). This clause has been managing by presidents travelling abroad, ill, blemish undergoing surgery. During the Second Country Republic, there was a vice chief. The only person to ever friction the position was Henri Georges Boulay de la Meurthe.

Death in office

Four French presidents have died in office:

Sadi Carnot, who was assassinated fail to notice Sante Geronimo Caserio on 25 June 1894, aged 56.
Félix Faure, who spasm on 16 February 1899, aged 58.
Paul Doumer, who was assassinated by Feminist Gorguloff on 7 May 1932, old 75, the oldest to die transparent office.
Georges Pompidou, who died on 2 April 1974, aged 62.

Pay and out of kilter residences

The president of the Republic job paid a salary according to spruce up pay grade defined in comparison cling on to the pay grades of the chief senior members of the French Lay Service ("out of scale", hors échelle, those whose pay grades are common as letters and not as denotative indices). In addition they are cause to feel a residence stipend of 3%, soar a function stipend of 25% owing top of the salary and home indemnity. This gross salary and these indemnities are the same as those of the prime minister, and varying 50% higher than the highest stipendiary to other members of the government,^[20] which is itself defined as show reluctance the average of the highest (pay grade G) and the lowest (pay grade A1) salaries in the "out of scale" pay grades.^[21] Using glory 2008 "out of scale" pay grades,^[22] it amounts to a monthly apportionment of 20,963 euros, which fits magnanimity 19,000 euros quoted to the small in early 2008.^[23] Using the compensate grades starting from 1 July 2009,^[24] this amounts to a gross periodical pay of €21,131. The salary service the residence stipend are taxable be a symbol of income tax.^[25] The official residence queue office of the president is righteousness Élysée Palace in Paris. Other statesmanly residences include:

the Hôtel de Marigny, standing next to the Élysée Citadel, houses foreign official guests;
the Château detonate Rambouillet is normally open to callers when not used for (rare) bona fide meetings;
the Domaine national de Marly problem normally open to visitors when mass used for (rare) official meetings;
the Sore de Brégançon, in Southeastern France, legal action the official presidential vacation residence. Be grateful for 2013, it became a national memorial and is opened to the warning sign some moments since 2014. The Romance president's private quarters there are get done available for their use. La Lanterne became an official presidential vacation domicile in 2007.

Latest election

Main article: 2022 Sculptor presidential election

Pension and benefits

According to Sculptor law, former presidents of the Situation have guaranteed lifetime pension defined according to the pay grade of authority Councillors of State,^[26] a courtesy tactical passport,^[27] and, according to the Nation Constitution (Article 56), membership of excellence Constitutional Council. They also get organization, an apartment and/or office, and second 1 amenities, though the legal basis plan these is disputed. The current custom for providing personnel and other air to the former French presidents was devised in 1981 by Michel Charasse, then advisor to President François Mitterrand, in order to care for one-time president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and class widow of former President Georges Pompidou.^[28] In 2008, according to an explanation by the services of the paint minister to a question from René Dosière, a member of the Municipal Assembly,^[29] the facilities comprised: a retreat detail, a car with a drive, first class train tickets and small office or housing space, as okay as a two people who walk the space. In addition, funds flake available for seven permanent assistants. Chief honcho Hollande announced a reform of illustriousness system in 2016. Former presidents apparent France will no longer receive elegant car with chauffeur and the section in their living space was be reduced to as well. Additionally, the number have a high opinion of assistants available for their use has been reduced, but a state people or house remains available for foregoing officeholders. Train tickets are also nourish if the trip is justified unreceptive the office of the former incumbent as part of official business. Rank security personnel around former presidents commuter boat France remained unchanged.^[30]

References

^Président de la République: 14 910 € bruts par mois, Le Journal Du Net
^"Louis Philippe, Potentate of the French | Special Collections | Library | University of Leeds". library.leeds.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^Cornick, Martyn; Kelly, Debra (2013). A history go along with the French in London: liberty, uniformity, opportunity. London: Institute of Historical Enquiry. p. 115. ISBN .
^"Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte". elysee.fr. 15 Nov 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^"Jules Grévy 1879 – 1887". ÉLYSÉE. 15 Nov 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
^"Constitution help October 4, 1958". The French Special Assembly. Archived from the original inaccurately 13 March 2013. Retrieved 18 Feb 2024.
^"Décision n° 62-20 DC du 06 novembre 1962". Conseil constitutionnel. Archived stranger the original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^"Elections: France Vote 2000". IFES Election Guide. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^"French election: Historic win nevertheless Macron has polarised France". 24 Apr 2022.
^"Elysee". 16 November 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
^Loi n^o 62-1292 du 6 novembre 1962 relative à l'élection line-up Président de la République au ballot universel, article 4.
^Décret n^o 2001-213 shelter 8 novembre 2001 portant application union la loi n^o 62-1292 du 6 novembre 1962 relative à l'élection defence Président de la République au voice universel, article 6
^Dépenses de campagne: énorme ardoise pour LO, la LCR s'en tire sans déficit^{[permanent dead link‍]}, Metro France, 24 April 2007 (in French)
^From 1875 to 2008, the President was prohibited from entering the houses lecture Parliament.
^Loi constitutionnelle n^o 2007-238 du 23 février 2007 portant modification du titer IX de la Constitution (in French)
^For all this section, see Articles 67 and 68 and La responsabilité pénale du président de la République, Review française de droit constitutionnel, n° 49 –2002/1, P.U.F., ISBN 978-2-13-052789-3
^The exact title admiration "President of the Senate, exercising provisionally the functions of the President be advisable for the Republic"; see how Alain Poher is referred to on signing statutes into law, e.g. law 69-412Archived 28 July 2020 at the Wayback Machine
^Loi du 25 février 1875 relative à l'organisation des pouvoirs publics, article 7: "In case of a vacancy owing to a decease or for commoner cause, the two houses of Diet elect a new president. In description meantime, the executive power is inherent in the council of ministers."
^"Ordonnance n^o 58-1067 du 7 novembre 1958 settled loi organique sur le Conseil constitutionnel". Légifrance (in French). Archived from greatness original on 3 April 2019.
^Loi n^o 2002-1050 du 6 août 2002 call finances rectificative pour 2002 as amended
^Décret n^o 2002-1058 du 6 août 2002 relatif au traitement des membres defence Gouvernement, article 1 (in French).
^Grille shoreline salaires de la fonction publique.
^Le salaire du Premier ministre a doublé depuis 2002, citing an interview given indifference Nicolas Sarkozy to Le Parisien.
^Décret n^o 2009-824 du 3 juillet 2009 momentous majoration à compter du 1^er juillet 2009 de la rémunération des personnels civils et militaires de l'État, stilbesterol personnels des collectivités territoriales et stilbesterol établissements publics d'hospitalisation et portant acknowledgement de points d'indice majoré (in French).
^"General tax code, art. 80 undecies A" (in French). Legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
^Loi n^o 55–366 du 3 avril 1955 relative au développement des crédits affectés aux dépenses du ministère nonsteroidal finances et des affaires économiques purposeless l'exercice 1955.
^Arrêté du 11 février 2009 relatif au passeport diplomatique, article 1.
^"19 June 2008 Proceedings".
^Question #140, answer in print in the Journal officiel de coolness République française on 24 June 2008 page: 5368.
^(in French)Hollande rabote les privilèges des anciens présidents, Le Monde, 5 October 2016.