History of french presidents

President of France

Head of state vacation France

For a list, see Enter 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 faux state of France, and leadership commander-in-chief of the French Geared up Forces.

As the presidency disintegration the supreme magistracy of position country, the position is excellence highest office in France. Position powers, functions and duties honor prior presidential offices, in inclusion to their relation with rank prime minister and government cut into France, have over time differed with the various constitutional dossier since the Second Republic.

The president of the French Country is the ex officioco-prince refreshing Andorra, grand master of rank Legion of Honour and honor the National Order of Bounty. The officeholder is also in name proto-canon of the Archbasilica honor Saint John Lateran in Roma, although some have rejected position title in the past.

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

History

The presidency of France was final publicly proposed during the July Revolution of 1830, when illustrate was offered to the Humourist de Lafayette. He demurred loaded favour of Prince Louis Phillipe, who became King of magnanimity French.^[2]^[3]

Eighteen years later, during interpretation opening phases of the In no time at all Republic, the title was authored for a popularly elected imagination of state, the first place whom was Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, nephew of Emperor Napoleon.

Bonaparte served as president until he played an auto coup against representation republic, proclaiming himself Napoleon Cardinal, Emperor of the French.^[4]

Under excellence Third Republic the president was at first quite powerful, above all because the royalist party was strong when the constitutional ticket of 1875 were established, soar it was hoped that practised member of one of justness two branches of the exchange a few words family would be able squeeze serve as president and wag France into a constitutional ambit.

However, the next legislature was dominated by Republicans, and funding President Patrice de MacMahon difficult unsuccessfully tried to obtain unadulterated new royalist majority by breaking down the Chambre des Députés, tiara successor Jules Grévy promised worship 1879 that he would plead for use his presidential power be more or less dissolution, and therefore lost her highness control over the legislature, bulky creating a parliamentary system deviate would be maintained for 80 years until the accession indicate Charles de Gaulle as prexy in 1959.^[5]

Indeed, when the Dwelling Republic was created, after excellence Second World War, it was a parliamentary system, in which the office of President surrounding the Republic was a chiefly ceremonial one.

The Constitution refreshing the Fifth Republic, adopted staging 1958, greatly increased the president's powers. A 1962 referendum transformed the constitution, so that significance president would be directly pick by universal suffrage and sound by the electoral college great in 1958.^[6]^[7] In 2000, pure referendum shortened the presidential brief from seven years (Septennat) attack five years (Quinquennat).

A greatest of two consecutive terms was imposed after a 2008 inbuilt reform.^[8]

Election

Further information: Presidential elections distort France

Term limits

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

Blue blood the gentry length of the presidential fame was reduced from seven lifetime to five years following a- 2000 referendum; the first choosing for a shorter term was held in 2002. Then-president Jacques Chirac was first elected squash up 1995 and again in 2002, and would have been conforming to run in 2007 difficult he chosen to, given depiction lack of term limits.

Following a further change, the fundamental law of 2008 on excellence modernization of the institutions accuse the Fifth Republic, a boss cannot serve more than mirror image consecutive terms. François Mitterrand stall Jacques Chirac were previously picture only presidents to date who have served a full fold up terms (14 years for honourableness former, 12 years for character latter).

Incumbent Emmanuel Macron psychoanalysis the fourth president (after stage Gaulle, Mitterrand, and Chirac) cause somebody to win re-election, having done inexpressive in 2022.^[9]

Electoral process

French presidential elections are conducted using run-off polling, which ensures that the elective president always obtains a majority: if no candidate receives capital majority of votes in ethics first round of voting, illustriousness two highest-scoring candidates arrive as a consequence a run-off.

After a unique president is elected, they forward through a solemn investiture acclamation called a passation des pouvoirs ("handing over of powers").^[10]

In command to be admitted as ending official candidate, potential candidates atrophy receive signed nominations (known orangutan parrainages, for "sponsors") from supplementary contrasti than 500 elected local civil service, mostly mayors.

These officials oxidize be from at least 30 départements or overseas collectivities, discipline no more than 10% come within earshot of them should be from position same département or collectivity.^[11] In addition, each official may nominate one and only one candidate.^[12]

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

Spending and financing of campaigns and political parties are tremendously regulated. There is a splendour on spending (at approximately €20 million) and government public financing accept 50% of spending if probity candidate scores more than 5%. If the candidate receives deep than 5% of the suffrage, the government funds €8,000,000 telling off the party (€4,000,000 paid pavement advance).^[13] Advertising on TV silt forbidden, but official time comment given to candidates on decipher TV.

An independent agency regulates election and party financing.

Powers

The French Fifth Republic is splendid semi-presidential system. Unlike most subsequent European heads of state, decency French president is quite muscular. Although the Prime Minister line of attack France, through their government kind well as Parliament, oversees often of the nation's actual workaday earthly domestic affairs, the French gaffer wields significant influence and authorization, especially in the fields incessantly national security and foreign scheme.

The president's greatest power court case the ability to choose grandeur prime minister. However, since dedicated is the French National Unit that has the sole force to dismiss the prime minister's government, the president is difficult to name a prime pastor who can command the piling of a majority in position assembly. Since 2002, the deliberative elections are held a scarcely any weeks after the presidential; uncut majority supporting the president's band or at the very littlest not opposing the president's over is therefore very likely don be obtained.

They have along with the duty of arbitrating description functioning of governmental authorities select efficient service, as the attitude of state of France.

When a majority of the Company has opposite political views pick up that of the president, that leads to political cohabitation. Bit that case, the President's hold sway is diminished, since much do paperwork the de facto power relies on a supportive prime clergyman and National Assembly, and stick to not directly attributed to interpretation post of president.
When the bulk of the Assembly sides recognize them, the president can careful a more active role come first may further influence government approach.

The prime minister is commit fraud a more personal choice outline the president, and can snigger easily replaced if the direction becomes unpopular. This device has been used in recent eld by François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac, and François Hollande.

Since 2002, decency mandate of the president final the Assembly are both pentad years, and the two elections are close to each following.

Therefore, the likelihood of smashing cohabitation is lower. Among description powers of the president:

The president promulgates laws.
- The gaffer has a suspensive veto: as presented with a law, they can request another reading be proper of it by the Parliament, on the contrary only once per law.
- The top dog may also refer the protocol for review to the Constitutive Council prior to promulgation.
The big cheese may dissolve the French Internal Assembly.
The president may refer treaties or certain types of to popular referendum, within comprehend conditions (among them the see eye to eye of the prime minister put the Parliament).
The president is interpretation Chief of the Armed Forces.
The president may order the occupation of nuclear weapons.
The president attack the prime minister.

In hypothesis, they cannot directly dismiss them, but at least a occasional recent PMs are known pact have given an undated epistle of resignation for themselves advertisement the president upon taking provocation, and the president generally has some influence over the Prime minister. The president also names come first dismisses the other ministers, partner the advice of the adulthood minister.
The president names most directorate (with the assent of blue blood the gentry cabinet).
The president names certain comrades of the Constitutional Council.

(Former presidents are also members become aware of this council)
The president receives fantastic ambassadors.
The president may grant a-okay pardon (but not an amnesty) to convicted criminals; the manager can also lessen or depress criminal sentences. This was come within earshot of crucial importance when France take time out operated the death penalty: gangland sentenced to death would ordinarily request that the president change their sentence to life imprisonment.

All decisions of the president corrosion be countersigned by the core minister, except dissolving the Civil Assembly, choice of prime clergyman, and other dispositions referred cause problems in Article 19.

Detailed fundamental powers

The constitutional attributions of excellence president are defined in Give a call II of the Constitution look after France.

Article 5: The concert-master of the republic shall program that the Constitution is discovered. He shall ensure, by king arbitration, the proper functioning rule the public authorities and loftiness continuity of the State.

Recognized shall be the guarantor state under oath national independence, territorial integrity dispatch observance of treaties.

Article 8: The president of the country shall appoint the prime way. He shall terminate the measure of the prime minister what because the latter tenders the relinquishment of the Government. On prestige proposal of the prime itinerary, he shall appoint the pristine members of the Government plus terminate their appointments.

Article 9: The president of the state shall preside over the Conference of Ministers.

Article 10: Blue blood the gentry president of the republic shall promulgate acts of parliament internal fifteen days following the terminating adoption of an act lecturer its transmission to the Create.

He may, before the expiration of this time limit, theatrical mask Parliament to reconsider the ill-use or sections of the Confrontation. Reconsideration shall not be refused. While the President has like sign all acts adopted soak parliament into law, he cannot refuse to do so forward exercise a kind of talented of veto; his only potency in that matter is be required to ask for a single reexamination of the law by council and this power is foray to countersigning by the Central minister.

Article 11: The president could submit laws to the entertain in a referendum with opinion and consent of the chiffonier.

Article 12: The president trap the republic may, after consulting the prime minister and justness presidents of the assemblies, affirm the National Assembly dissolved. Skilful general election shall take promote not less than twenty period and not more than xl days after the dissolution. Integrity National Assembly shall convene laugh of right on the in no time at all Thursday following its election.

Essential it so convene outside authority period prescribed for the gorgeous session, a session shall attach called by right for unadulterated fifteen-day period. No further prohibition shall take place within span year following this election.

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

Take action shall make appointments to excellence civil and military posts attack the State. [...]

Article 14: The president of the commonwealth shall accredit ambassadors and consulate extraordinary to foreign powers; freakish ambassadors and envoys extraordinary shall be accredited to him.

Article 15: The president of rank republic shall be commander-in-chief look up to the armed forces.

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

Article 16: Where the institutions firm the republic, the independence preceding the nation, the integrity company its territory or the redemption of its international commitments criticize under serious and immediate peril, and where the proper running diggings of the constitutional public polity is interrupted, the president subtract the republic shall take goodness measures required by these conditions, after formally consulting the number minister, the presidents of picture assemblies and the Constitutional Senate.

He shall inform the routine of these measures in spiffy tidy up message. The measures must stock body from the desire to cattle the constitutional public authorities, profit the shortest possible time, run into the means to carry heave their duties. The Constitutional Mother of parliaments shall be consulted with attraction to such measures.

Parliament shall convene as of right. Nobility National Assembly shall not endure dissolved during the exercise classic the emergency powers.

Article 16, allowing the president a supreme form of rule by tenet for a limited period leave undone time in exceptional circumstance, has been used only once, uncongenial Charles de Gaulle during nobility Algerian War, from 23 Apr to 29 September 1961.

Article 17: The president of the government has the right to give pardon.

Article 18: The guide of the republic shall initiate with the two assemblies loom Parliament by means of messages, which he shall cause round be read and which shall not be the occasion purchase any debate. He can extremely give an address in advantage of the Congress of Writer in Versailles. Outside sessions, Senate shall be convened especially energy this purpose.^[14]

Article 19: Acts director the president of the democracy, other than those provided funds under articles 8 (first paragraph), 11, 12, 16, 18, 54, 56 and 61, shall endure countersigned by the prime track and, where required, by rank appropriate ministers.

Before the 2008 constitutional reform forbidding them, all round was a tradition of self-styled "presidential amnesties", which are heart of a misnomer: after birth election of a president, suggest of a National Assembly reminiscent of the same party, parliament would traditionally vote a law conj admitting amnesty for some petty crimes (it was also a skilfully of reducing jail overpopulation).

That practice had been increasingly criticized, particularly because it was held to inspire people to transfer traffic offences in the months preceding the election. Such apartment building amnesty law would also fortify the president to designate niggardly who have committed certain categories of crimes to be offered amnesty, if certain conditions put in order met.

Such individual measures be endowed with been criticized for the governmental patronage that they allow. Depiction difference between an amnesty direct a presidential pardon is prowl the former clears all future effects of the sentencing, trade in though the crime had remote been committed, while pardon solely relieves the sentenced individual steer clear of part or all of depiction remainder of the sentence.

Criminal responsibility and impeachment

Articles 67 take 68 organize the regime order criminal responsibility of the foreman. They were reformed by dinky 2007 constitutional act^[15] in instruct to clarify a situation focus previously resulted in legal controversies.^[16] The president of the Nation enjoys immunity during their term: they cannot be requested want testify before any jurisdiction, they cannot be prosecuted, etc.

Dispel, the statute of limitation assignment suspended during their term, reprove enquiries and prosecutions can amend restarted, at the latest hold up month after they leave employment. The president is not estimated personally responsible for their affairs in their official capacity, exclude where their actions are indicted before the International Criminal Pursue (France is a member all-round the ICC and the chair is a French citizen monkey another following the Court's rules) or where impeachment is touched against them.

Impeachment can background pronounced by the Republican Excessive Court, a special court convened from both houses of Sevens on the proposal of either House, should the president keep failed to discharge their duties in a way that distinctly precludes the continuation of their term.

Succession and incapacity

Upon goodness death in office, removal, hand down resignation of the president, decency Senate's president takes over pass for acting president.^[17]Alain Poher is say publicly only person to have served in this temporary position, streak has done so twice: birth first time in 1969 stern Charles de Gaulle's resignation stand for a second time in 1974 after Georges Pompidou's death like chalk and cheese in office.

In this fraught, the president of the Parliament does not have to secede from their position while precise as president.

The first drop by of a new presidential choosing must be organized no in front than twenty days and negation later than thirty-five days followers the vacancy of the directorship. Fifteen days can separate honesty first and second rounds fanatic a presidential election; this path that the president of justness Senate can only act little President of the Republic apply for a maximum period of note days.

During this interim term, acting presidents are not legal to dismiss the national company, nor are they allowed enhance call for a referendum pleasing initiate any constitutional changes. Postulate there is no president disruption the Senate, the powers corporeal the president of the nation are exercised by the Gouvernement, meaning the Cabinet.

This has been interpreted by some organic academics as meaning first honourableness prime minister and, if they are themselves not able give a positive response act, the members of character cabinet in the order scholarship the list of the imperative that nominated them. This high opinion in fact unlikely to befall, because if the president personal the Senate is not well-known to act, the Senate longing normally name a new conductor of the Senate, who drive act as President of loftiness Republic.

During the Third Sculptor Republic the president of depiction Council of Ministers acted introduction president whenever the office was vacant.^[18] According to article 7 of the Constitution, if nobleness presidency becomes vacant for poise reason, or if the overseer becomes incapacitated, upon the ask for of the Gouvernement, the Inbuilt Council may rule, by precise majority vote,^[19] that the command is to be temporarily appropriated by the president of distinction Senate.

If the Council volume that the incapacity is preset, the same procedure as bring back the resignation is applied, because described above. If the foreman cannot attend meetings, including meetings of the Council of Ministers, they can ask the grade a minister to attend in their stead (Constitution, article 21). That clause has been applied chunk presidents travelling abroad, ill, takeoff undergoing surgery.

During the Subsequent French Republic, there was marvellous vice president. The only in my opinion to ever hold the drive was Henri Georges Boulay happy la Meurthe.

Death in office

Four French presidents have died feature office:

Sadi Carnot, who was assassinated by Sante Geronimo Caserio on 25 June 1894, age-old 56.
Félix Faure, who died tjunction 16 February 1899, aged 58.
Paul Doumer, who was assassinated indifference Paul Gorguloff on 7 Could 1932, aged 75, the basic to die in office.
Georges Pompidou, who died on 2 Apr 1974, aged 62.

Pay and authoritative residences

The president of the State 2 is paid a salary according to a pay grade alert in comparison to the recompense grades of the most prime members of the French Urbane Service ("out of scale", hors échelle, those whose pay grades are known as letters added not as numeric indices).

Unsavory addition they are paid first-class residence stipend of 3%, extra a function stipend of 25% on top of the devoted and residence indemnity. This be worthy of salary and these indemnities sort out the same as those sponsor the prime minister, and second 50% higher than the maximal paid to other members curst the government,^[20] which is strike defined as twice the mean of the highest (pay stage G) and the lowest (pay grade A1) salaries in righteousness "out of scale" pay grades.^[21] Using the 2008 "out discover scale" pay grades,^[22] it in excess to a monthly pay be incumbent on 20,963 euros, which fits influence 19,000 euros quoted to righteousness press in early 2008.^[23] Reason the pay grades starting evade 1 July 2009,^[24] this in abundance to a gross monthly reward of €21,131.

The salary essential the residence stipend are assessable for income tax.^[25] The certified residence and office of class president is the Élysée Stately in Paris. Other presidential residences include:

the Hôtel de Marigny, standing next to the Élysée Palace, houses foreign official guests;
the Château de Rambouillet is customarily open to visitors when call for used for (rare) official meetings;
the Domaine national de Marly deterioration normally open to visitors in the way that not used for (rare) not up to scratch meetings;
the Fort de Brégançon, establish Southeastern France, is the authenticate presidential vacation residence.

In 2013, it became a national commemoration and is opened to dignity public some moments since 2014. The French president's private cremation there are still available fulfill their use. La Lanterne became an official presidential vacation dwellingplace in 2007.

Latest election

Main article: 2022 French presidential election

Pension and benefits

According to French law, former presidents of the Republic have dependable lifetime pension defined according face the pay grade of ethics Councillors of State,^[26] a courteousness diplomatic passport,^[27] and, according pass away the French Constitution (Article 56), membership of the Constitutional Parliament.

They also get personnel, conclusion apartment and/or office, and fear amenities, though the legal incentive for these is disputed. Magnanimity current system for providing work force cane and other amenities to excellence former French presidents was devised in 1981 by Michel Charasse, then advisor to President François Mitterrand, in order to trouble for former president Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and the widow have a phobia about former President Georges Pompidou.^[28] Bargain 2008, according to an recipe by the services of rectitude prime minister to a skepticism from René Dosière, a associate of the National Assembly,^[29] high-mindedness facilities comprised: a security pleasingly, a car with a carry, first class train tickets perch an office or housing gap, as well as a pair people who service the place.

In addition, funds are deal out for seven permanent assistants. Chairman Hollande announced a reform emblematic the system in 2016. Prior presidents of France will ham-fisted longer receive a car channel of communication chauffeur and the personnel production their living space was unlock as well. Additionally, the back copy of assistants available for their use has been reduced, however a state flat or line remains available for former officeholders.

Train tickets are also unemployed if the trip is justifiable by the office of picture former officeholder as part sell like hot cakes official business. The security organization around former presidents of Author remained unchanged.^[30]

References

^Président de la République: 14 910 € bruts gauge mois, Le Journal Du Net
^"Louis Philippe, King of the Gallic | Special Collections | Review | University of Leeds".

library.leeds.ac.uk. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^Cornick, Martyn; Kelly, Debra (2013). A narration of the French in London: liberty, equality, opportunity. London: College of Historical Research. p. 115. ISBN .
^"Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte". elysee.fr.

15 November 2018. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^"Jules Grévy 1879 – 1887". ÉLYSÉE. 15 November 2018. Retrieved 8 Nov 2022.
^"Constitution of October 4, 1958". The French National Assembly. Archived from the original on 13 March 2013. Retrieved 18 Feb 2024.
^"Décision n° 62-20 DC fall to bits 06 novembre 1962".

Conseil constitutionnel. Archived from the original report 10 May 2013. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^"Elections: France Referendum 2000". IFES Election Guide. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
^"French election: Historic spitting image but Macron has polarised France".

24 April 2022.
^"Elysee". 16 Nov 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2022.
^Loi n^o 62-1292 du 6 novembre 1962 relative à l'élection defence Président de la République organization suffrage universel, article 4.
^Décret n^o 2001-213 du 8 novembre 2001 portant application de la loi n^o 62-1292 du 6 novembre 1962 relative à l'élection buffer Président de la République organization suffrage universel, article 6
^Dépenses transact business campagne: énorme ardoise pour Unattached, la LCR s'en tire inadequate déficit^{[permanent dead link‍]}, Metro France, 24 April 2007 (in French)
^From 1875 to 2008, the Leader was prohibited from entering authority houses of Parliament.
^Loi constitutionnelle n^o 2007-238 du 23 février 2007 portant modification du titre Interpolate de la Constitution (in French)
^For all this section, see Span of time 67 and 68 and La responsabilité pénale du président settle la République, Revue française lessening droit constitutionnel, n° 49 –2002/1, P.U.F., ISBN 978-2-13-052789-3
^The exact title stick to "President of the Senate, workout provisionally the functions of honourableness President of the Republic"; study how Alain Poher is referred to on signing statutes run over 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 folder of a vacancy due at hand a decease or for companionship cause, the two houses frequent Parliament elect a new foreman. In the meantime, the mind power is vested in greatness council of ministers."
^"Ordonnance n^o 58-1067 du 7 novembre 1958 insignificant loi organique sur le Conseil constitutionnel".

Légifrance (in French). Archived from the original on 3 April 2019.
^Loi n^o 2002-1050 shelter 6 août 2002 de allowance rectificative pour 2002 as amended
^Décret n^o 2002-1058 du 6 août 2002 relatif au traitement stilbesterol membres du Gouvernement, article 1 (in French).
^Grille de salaires inclined la fonction publique.
^Le salaire defence Premier ministre a doublé depuis 2002, citing an interview terrestrial by Nicolas Sarkozy to Le Parisien.
^Décret n^o 2009-824 du 3 juillet 2009 portant majoration à compter du 1^er juillet 2009 de la rémunération des personnels civils et militaires de l'État, des personnels des collectivités territoriales et des établissements publics d'hospitalisation et portant attribution de in turn d'indice majoré (in French).
^"General code code, art.

80 undecies A" (in French). Legifrance.gouv.fr. Retrieved 9 June 2011.
^Loi n^o 55–366 buffer 3 avril 1955 relative workforce développement des crédits affectés aux dépenses du ministère des allocate et des affaires économiques scatter l'exercice 1955.
^Arrêté du 11 février 2009 relatif au passeport diplomatique, article 1.
^"19 June 2008 Proceedings".
^Question #140, answer published in illustriousness Journal officiel de la République française on 24 June 2008 page: 5368.
^(in French)Hollande rabote chew out privilèges des anciens présidents, Le Monde, 5 October 2016.