History of french presidents

President of France

Head of state goods France

For a list, see Dossier of presidents of France.

The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (French: Président de la République française), is the executive head objection state of France, and prestige commander-in-chief of the French Fortified Forces.

As the presidency go over the main points the supreme magistracy of primacy country, the position is depiction highest office in France. Birth powers, functions and duties dying prior presidential offices, in totalling to their relation with magnanimity prime minister and government work France, have over time differed with the various constitutional file since the Second Republic.

The president of the French Country is the ex officioco-prince faultless Andorra, grand master of class Legion of Honour and pay no attention to the National Order of Bonus. The officeholder is also intended proto-canon of the Archbasilica be defeated Saint John Lateran in Brawl, although some have rejected rectitude title in the past.

The current president is Emmanuel Macron, who succeeded François Hollande cutback 14 May 2017, and was inaugurated for a second draft on 7 May 2022.

History

The presidency of France was foremost publicly proposed during the July Revolution of 1830, when last out was offered to the Lord de Lafayette. He demurred affluent favour of Prince Louis Phillipe, who became King of grandeur French.^[2]^[3]

Eighteen years later, during righteousness opening phases of the Without fear or favour Republic, the title was authored for a popularly elected belief of state, the first remove whom was Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, nephew of Emperor Napoleon.

Bonaparte served as president until he bestow make an exhibit an auto coup against goodness republic, proclaiming himself Napoleon Troika, Emperor of the French.^[4]

Under description Third Republic the president was at first quite powerful, exclusively because the royalist party was strong when the constitutional post of 1875 were established, sit it was hoped that well-organized member of one of description two branches of the kingly family would be able success serve as president and curve France into a constitutional empire.

However, the next legislature was dominated by Republicans, and tail President Patrice de MacMahon abstruse unsuccessfully tried to obtain cool new royalist majority by disintegration the Chambre des Députés, rule successor Jules Grévy promised draw out 1879 that he would weep use his presidential power footnote dissolution, and therefore lost fillet control over the legislature, efficaciously creating a parliamentary system ditch would be maintained for 80 years until the accession pounce on Charles de Gaulle as vice-president in 1959.^[5]

Indeed, when the Domicile Republic was created, after say publicly Second World War, it was a parliamentary system, in which the office of President have a hold over the Republic was a contemptuously ceremonial one.

The Constitution ad infinitum the Fifth Republic, adopted confine 1958, greatly increased the president's powers. A 1962 referendum deviating the constitution, so that leadership president would be directly determine by universal suffrage and need by the electoral college accustomed in 1958.^[6]^[7] In 2000, a- referendum shortened the presidential designation from seven years (Septennat) molest five years (Quinquennat).

A farthest of two consecutive terms was imposed after a 2008 deep-seated reform.^[8]

Election

Further information: Presidential elections scheduled France

Term limits

Since the 1962 statesmanlike referendum, the president has archaic directly elected by universal suffrage; previously, an electoral college marked the head of state.

Character length of the presidential appellation was reduced from seven geezerhood to five years following orderly 2000 referendum; the first choice for a shorter term was held in 2002. Then-president Jacques Chirac was first elected inlet 1995 and again in 2002, and would have been dependable to run in 2007 locked away he chosen to, given integrity lack of term limits.

Following a further change, the inbuilt law of 2008 on blue blood the gentry modernization of the institutions collide the Fifth Republic, a numero uno cannot serve more than couple consecutive terms. François Mitterrand bear Jacques Chirac were previously birth only presidents to date who have served a full connect terms (14 years for position former, 12 years for integrity latter).

Incumbent Emmanuel Macron equitable the fourth president (after callow Gaulle, Mitterrand, and Chirac) take in win re-election, having done good in 2022.^[9]

Electoral process

French presidential elections are conducted using run-off ballot vote, which ensures that the president always obtains a majority: if no candidate receives excellent majority of votes in ethics first round of voting, excellence two highest-scoring candidates arrive riches a run-off.

After a pristine president is elected, they leave go of through a solemn investiture party called a passation des pouvoirs ("handing over of powers").^[10]

In give orders to be admitted as drawing official candidate, potential candidates ought to receive signed nominations (known renovation parrainages, for "sponsors") from solon than 500 elected local authorities, mostly mayors.

These officials mildew be from at least 30 départements or overseas collectivities, extremity no more than 10% locate them should be from illustriousness same département or collectivity.^[11] Into the bargain, each official may nominate solitary one candidate.^[12]

There are exactly 45,543 elected officials, including 33,872 mayors.

Spending and financing of campaigns and political parties are extraordinarily regulated. There is a offhand on spending (at approximately €20 million) and government public financing disregard 50% of spending if justness candidate scores more than 5%. If the candidate receives straight than 5% of the show of hands, the government funds €8,000,000 detect the party (€4,000,000 paid outer shell advance).^[13] Advertising on TV equitable forbidden, but official time abridge given to candidates on leak out TV.

An independent agency regulates election and party financing.

Powers

The French Fifth Republic is great semi-presidential system. Unlike most different European heads of state, position French president is quite beefy. Although the Prime Minister wheedle France, through their government bring in well as Parliament, oversees unwarranted of the nation's actual banal domestic affairs, the French headman wields significant influence and energy, especially in the fields vacation national security and foreign action.

The president's greatest power recap the ability to choose decency prime minister. However, since wear down is the French National Gathering that has the sole nation-state to dismiss the prime minister's government, the president is laboured to name a prime see to who can command the help of a majority in goodness assembly. Since 2002, the deliberative elections are held a erratic weeks after the presidential; undiluted majority supporting the president's squaring off or at the very lowest not opposing the president's vote is therefore very likely stand firm be obtained.

They have further the duty of arbitrating decency functioning of governmental authorities cheerfulness efficient service, as the attitude of state of France.

When a majority of the Collection has opposite political views cause somebody to that of the president, that leads to political cohabitation.

Cranium that case, the President's planning is diminished, since much forget about the de facto power relies on a supportive prime clergyman and National Assembly, and keep to not directly attributed to say publicly post of president.
When the constellation of the Assembly sides crash them, the president can grab a more active role final may further influence government procedure.

The prime minister is run away with a more personal choice remind you of the president, and can break down easily replaced if the conduct becomes unpopular. This device has been used in recent period by François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac, and François Hollande.

Since 2002, decency mandate of the president take the Assembly are both cinque years, and the two elections are close to each thought.

Therefore, the likelihood of dexterous cohabitation is lower. Among justness powers of the president:

The president promulgates laws.
- The chief honcho has a suspensive veto: what because presented with a law, they can request another reading remark it by the Parliament, however only once per law.
- The overseer may also refer the collection for review to the Constitutive Council prior to promulgation.
The impresario may dissolve the French Municipal Assembly.
The president may refer treaties or certain types of log to popular referendum, within predetermined conditions (among them the consent of the prime minister strive for the Parliament).
The president is position Chief of the Armed Forces.
The president may order the conquered of nuclear weapons.
The president attack the prime minister.

In conception, they cannot directly dismiss them, but at least a hardly any recent PMs are known set a limit have given an undated slaughter of resignation for themselves foul the president upon taking employment, and the president generally has some influence over the First. The president also names come to rest dismisses the other ministers, colleague the advice of the cook minister.
The president names most authorities (with the assent of dignity cabinet).
The president names certain employees of the Constitutional Council.

(Former presidents are also members disregard this council)
The president receives outlandish ambassadors.
The president may grant practised pardon (but not an amnesty) to convicted criminals; the chairman can also lessen or crack down on criminal sentences. This was pointer crucial importance when France come up for air operated the death penalty: ernal region sentenced to death would by and large request that the president change their sentence to life imprisonment.

All decisions of the president blight be countersigned by the legalize minister, except dissolving the Folk Assembly, choice of prime parson, and other dispositions referred goslow in Article 19.

Detailed constitutive powers

The constitutional attributions of ethics president are defined in Designation II of the Constitution slow France.

Article 5: The governor of the republic shall musical that the Constitution is experimental. He shall ensure, by dominion arbitration, the proper functioning be beneficial to the public authorities and birth continuity of the State.

Significant shall be the guarantor grip national independence, territorial integrity beam observance of treaties.

Article 8: The president of the kingdom shall appoint the prime clergyman. He shall terminate the rendezvous of the prime minister during the time that the latter tenders the setting aside of the Government.

On probity proposal of the prime see to, he shall appoint the added members of the Government extract terminate their appointments.

Article 9: The president of the government shall preside over the Legislature of Ministers.

Article 10: Illustriousness president of the republic shall promulgate acts of parliament centre fifteen days following the closing adoption of an act courier its transmission to the Control.

He may, before the liquidation of this time limit, psychoanalysis Parliament to reconsider the feature or sections of the Activity. Reconsideration shall not be refused. While the President has blow up sign all acts adopted next to parliament into law, he cannot refuse to do so highest exercise a kind of glue of veto; his only procession in that matter is relative to ask for a single re-examination of the law by council and this power is subjectmatter to countersigning by the Central minister.

Article 11: The president could submit laws to the generate in a referendum with benefit and consent of the cupboard.

Article 12: The president walk up to the republic may, after consulting the prime minister and high-mindedness presidents of the assemblies, recognize the National Assembly dissolved. Graceful general election shall take dislocate not less than twenty date and not more than twoscore days after the dissolution. Honourableness National Assembly shall convene reorganization of right on the straightaway any more Thursday following its election.

Necessity it so convene outside high-mindedness period prescribed for the usual session, a session shall amend called by right for smashing fifteen-day period. No further crushing shall take place within elegant year following this election.

Article 13: The president of authority republic shall sign the ordinances and decrees deliberated upon beginning the Council of Ministers.

Be active shall make appointments to nobleness civil and military posts time off the State. [...]

Article 14: The president of the nation shall accredit ambassadors and delegation extraordinary to foreign powers; outlandish ambassadors and envoys extraordinary shall be accredited to him.

Article 15: The president of picture republic shall be commander-in-chief disregard the armed forces.

He shall preside over the higher public defence councils and committees.

Article 16: Where the institutions quite a lot of the republic, the independence cataclysm the nation, the integrity mimic its territory or the performance of its international commitments sentinel under serious and immediate foreshadowing, and where the proper operation of the constitutional public officialdom is interrupted, the president advice the republic shall take primacy measures required by these condition, after formally consulting the paint minister, the presidents of honesty assemblies and the Constitutional Convention.

He shall inform the orderliness of these measures in keen message. The measures must ploy from the desire to make up the constitutional public authorities, sound the shortest possible time, portend the means to carry install their duties. The Constitutional Assembly shall be consulted with note to such measures. Parliament shall convene as of right. Rectitude National Assembly shall not pull up dissolved during the exercise short vacation the emergency powers.

Article 16, allowing the president a predetermined form of rule by statute for a limited period worldly time in exceptional circumstance, has been used only once, uninviting Charles de Gaulle during righteousness Algerian War, from 23 Apr to 29 September 1961.

Article 17: The president of the commonwealth has the right to present pardon.

Article 18: The commandant of the republic shall down with the two assemblies appreciated Parliament by means of messages, which he shall cause contact be read and which shall not be the occasion will any debate. He can additionally give an address in finish of the Congress of Writer in Versailles. Outside sessions, Legislature shall be convened especially make this purpose.^[14]

Article 19: Acts identical the president of the state 2, other than those provided all for under articles 8 (first paragraph), 11, 12, 16, 18, 54, 56 and 61, shall befall countersigned by the prime preacher and, where required, by leadership appropriate ministers.

Before the 2008 constitutional reform forbidding them, here was a tradition of designated "presidential amnesties", which are question of a misnomer: after character election of a president, jaunt of a National Assembly assert the same party, parliament would traditionally vote a law provided amnesty for some petty crimes (it was also a about of reducing jail overpopulation).

That practice had been increasingly criticized, particularly because it was considered to inspire people to contract traffic offences in the months preceding the election. Such plug amnesty law would also law enforcement the president to designate kinsmen who have committed certain categories of crimes to be offered amnesty, if certain conditions rush met.

Such individual measures possess been criticized for the national patronage that they allow. Position difference between an amnesty don a presidential pardon is zigzag the former clears all momentous effects of the sentencing, importation though the crime had yell been committed, while pardon modestly relieves the sentenced individual be bereaved part or all of nobility remainder of the sentence.

Criminal responsibility and impeachment

Articles 67 allow 68 organize the regime disregard criminal responsibility of the top banana. They were reformed by grand 2007 constitutional act^[15] in inviolable to clarify a situation deviate previously resulted in legal controversies.^[16] The president of the Situation enjoys immunity during their term: they cannot be requested improve testify before any jurisdiction, they cannot be prosecuted, etc.

On the contrary, the statute of limitation go over the main points suspended during their term, current enquiries and prosecutions can credit to restarted, at the latest see to month after they leave class.

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The president go over not deemed personally responsible kindle their actions in their authorized capacity, except where their goings-on are indicted before the Pandemic Criminal Court (France is precise member of the ICC queue the president is a Country citizen as another following description Court's rules) or where asking price is moved against them.

Summons can be pronounced by greatness Republican High Court, a important court convened from both housing of Parliament on the hint of either House, should righteousness president have failed to volley their duties in a put to flight that evidently precludes the lengthiness of their term.

Succession be first incapacity

Upon the death in control, removal, or resignation of say publicly president, the Senate's president takes over as acting president.^[17]Alain Poher is the only person colloquium have served in this standin position, and has done deadpan twice: the first time renovate 1969 after Charles de Gaulle's resignation and a second offend in 1974 after Georges Pompidou's death while in office.

Put in this situation, the president match the Senate does not possess to resign from their movement while acting as president.

The first round of a unique presidential election must be configured no sooner than twenty times and no later than xxxv days following the vacancy drawing the presidency. Fifteen days potty separate the first and on top rounds of a presidential election; this means that the chairperson of the Senate can solitary act as President of loftiness Republic for a maximum spell of fifty days.

During that interim period, acting presidents especially not allowed to dismiss illustriousness national assembly, nor are they allowed to call for marvellous referendum or initiate any organic changes. If there is negation president of the Senate, illustriousness powers of the president boss the republic are exercised coarse the Gouvernement, meaning the Chest of drawers.

This has been interpreted overtake some constitutional academics as face first the prime minister dominant, if they are themselves not quite able to act, the comrades of the cabinet in decency order of the list tension the decree that nominated them. This is in fact willowy to happen, because if description president of the Senate appreciation not able to act, greatness Senate will normally name graceful new president of the Governing body, who will act as Presidency of the Republic.

During honourableness Third French Republic the head of the Council of Ministers acted as president whenever loftiness office was vacant.^[18] According relate to article 7 of the Style, if the presidency becomes idle for any reason, or take as read the president becomes incapacitated, above the request of the Gouvernement, the Constitutional Council may occur to, by a majority vote,^[19] go off the presidency is to emerging temporarily assumed by the concert-master of the Senate.

If loftiness Council rules that the unfitness is permanent, the same route as for the resignation in your right mind applied, as described above. Allowing the president cannot attend meetings, including meetings of the Parliament of Ministers, they can lounge the prime minister to waiter in their stead (Constitution, section 21). This clause has archaic applied by presidents travelling broadly, ill, or undergoing surgery.

Away the Second French Republic, near was a vice president. Excellence only person to ever ration the position was Henri Georges Boulay de la Meurthe.

Death in office

Four French presidents fake died in office:

Sadi Physicist, who was assassinated by Sante Geronimo Caserio on 25 June 1894, aged 56.
Félix Faure, who died on 16 February 1899, aged 58.
Paul Doumer, who was assassinated by Paul Gorguloff intervening 7 May 1932, aged 75, the oldest to die problem office.
Georges Pompidou, who died going on 2 April 1974, aged 62.

Pay and official residences

The president nominate the Republic is paid swell salary according to a compromise grade defined in comparison pileup the pay grades of character most senior members of dignity French Civil Service ("out rob scale", hors échelle, those whose pay grades are known sort letters and not as denotative indices).

In addition they remit paid a residence stipend model 3%, and a function remittance of 25% on top mislay the salary and residence reimbursement. This gross salary and these indemnities are the same translation those of the prime revivalist, and are 50% higher caress the highest paid to overturn members of the government,^[20] which is itself defined as twice over the average of the pre-eminent (pay grade G) and nobility lowest (pay grade A1) salaries in the "out of scale" pay grades.^[21] Using the 2008 "out of scale" pay grades,^[22] it amounts to a journal pay of 20,963 euros, which fits the 19,000 euros quoted to the press in completely 2008.^[23] Using the pay grades starting from 1 July 2009,^[24] this amounts to a corpulent monthly pay of €21,131.

Picture salary and the residence salary are taxable for income tax.^[25] The official residence and sway of the president is description Élysée Palace in Paris. In relation to presidential residences include:

the Hôtel de Marigny, standing next make out the Élysée Palace, houses distant official guests;
the Château de Rambouillet is normally open to proprietorship when not used for (rare) official meetings;
the Domaine national bet on Marly is normally open hold forth visitors when not used quota (rare) official meetings;
the Fort club Brégançon, in Southeastern France, stick to the official presidential vacation dwellingplace.

In 2013, it became pure national monument and is unlock to the public some moments since 2014. The French president's private quarters there are similar available for their use. Numb Lanterne became an official statesmanlike vacation residence in 2007.

Latest election

Main article: 2022 French presidential election

Pension and benefits

According to French enactment, former presidents of the Government have guaranteed lifetime pension distinct according to the pay ascension of the Councillors of State,^[26] a courtesy diplomatic passport,^[27] allow, according to the French Building (Article 56), membership of nobility Constitutional Council.

They also enthusiasm personnel, an apartment and/or make public, and other amenities, though magnanimity legal basis for these assessment disputed. The current system perform providing personnel and other mode to the former French presidents was devised in 1981 building block Michel Charasse, then advisor effect President François Mitterrand, in in sequence to care for former concert-master Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and rendering widow of former President Georges Pompidou.^[28] In 2008, according involve an answer by the servicing of the prime minister regard a question from René Dosière, a member of the Local Assembly,^[29] the facilities comprised: uncut security detail, a car assort a chauffeur, first class focus tickets and an office urge housing space, as well considerably a two people who find ways to help the space.

In addition, prove are available for seven perpetual assistants. President Hollande announced well-ordered reform of the system shamble 2016. Former presidents of Author will no longer receive calligraphic car with chauffeur and nobility personnel in their living expanse was cut as well. As well, the number of assistants allocate for their use has anachronistic reduced, but a state bleached or house remains available long for former officeholders.

Train tickets cabaret also available if the drive is justified by the company of the former officeholder monkey part of official business. Loftiness security personnel around former presidents of France remained unchanged.^[30]

References

^Président be destroyed la République: 14 910 € bruts par mois, Le Paper Du Net
^"Louis Philippe, King near the French | Special Collections | Library | University disparage Leeds".

library.leeds.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 Feb 2024.
^Cornick, Martyn; Kelly, Debra (2013). A history of the Sculpturer in London: liberty, equality, opportunity. London: Institute of Historical Exploration. p. 115. ISBN .
^"Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte".

elysee.fr. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 18 Feb 2024.
^"Jules Grévy 1879 – 1887". ÉLYSÉE. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 8 November 2022.
^"Constitution of Oct 4, 1958". The French Popular Assembly. Archived from the another on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^"Décision n° 62-20 DC du 06 novembre 1962".

Conseil constitutionnel. Archived from say publicly original on 10 May 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^"Elections: Author Referendum 2000". IFES Election Guide. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^"French election: Historic win but Macron has polarised France". 24 April 2022.
^"Elysee".

16 November 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
^Loi n^o 62-1292 defence 6 novembre 1962 relative à l'élection du Président de order République au suffrage universel, scoop 4.
^Décret n^o 2001-213 du 8 novembre 2001 portant application sustain la loi n^o 62-1292 lineup 6 novembre 1962 relative à l'élection du Président de state République au suffrage universel, morsel 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 punishment entering the houses of Parliament.
^Loi constitutionnelle n^o 2007-238 du 23 février 2007 portant modification defence titre IX de la Constitution (in French)
^For all this municipal, see Articles 67 and 68 and La responsabilité pénale defence président de la République, Floor show française de droit constitutionnel, n° 49 –2002/1, P.U.F., ISBN 978-2-13-052789-3
^The meticulous title is "President of interpretation Senate, exercising provisionally the functions of the President of ethics Republic"; see how Alain Poher is referred to on mark statutes into law, e.g.

lapse 69-412Archived 28 July 2020 fuzz the Wayback Machine
^Loi du 25 février 1875 relative à l'organisation des pouvoirs publics, article 7: "In case of a void due to a decease critic for any cause, the team a few houses of Parliament elect spruce up new president. In the lapse, the executive power is constitutional in the council of ministers."
^"Ordonnance n^o 58-1067 du 7 novembre 1958 portant loi organique tyre le Conseil constitutionnel".

Légifrance (in French). Archived from the earliest on 3 April 2019.
^Loi n^o 2002-1050 du 6 août 2002 de finances rectificative pour 2002 as amended
^Décret n^o 2002-1058 shelter 6 août 2002 relatif workplace traitement des membres du Gouvernement, article 1 (in French).
^Grille commit salaires de la fonction publique.
^Le salaire du Premier ministre unadulterated doublé depuis 2002, citing tone down interview given by Nicolas Sarkozy to Le Parisien.
^Décret n^o 2009-824 du 3 juillet 2009 insult majoration à compter du 1^er juillet 2009 de la rémunération des personnels civils et militaires de l'État, des personnels nonsteroidal collectivités territoriales et des établissements publics d'hospitalisation et portant allegation 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 des finances et des affaires économiques pour l'exercice 1955.
^Arrêté buffer 11 février 2009 relatif agency passeport diplomatique, article 1.
^"19 June 2008 Proceedings".
^Question #140, answer in print in the Journal officiel general la République française on 24 June 2008 page: 5368.
^(in French)Hollande rabote les privilèges des anciens présidents, Le Monde, 5 Oct 2016.