- Established in 1946, the IV th Republic is a weak political regime due to its fickle parliamentary system. Ministerial instability prevents the implementation of a lasting policy, while France is tormented by the Cold War and the colonialist wars.
- Begun in 1954, the Algerian war caused a tense general context. Some supporters of French Algeria believe that a coup is necessary to establish strong power.
- The Algiers putsch and the crisis of May 1958 brought General de Gaulle back to the government as President of the Council on 1 st June. On June 3, he obtained full powers for six months to draft a new constitution.
October 4, 1958
Characters
René Coty
Charles de Gaulle
Michel Debre
Procedure
This new constitution is written by a team around Michel Debré, under the control of the government. The new institutions must ensure the separation of executive and legislative powers, guarantee the independence of justice and maintain the parliamentary system.
The constitutional law of June 3, 1958 imposes a referendum to have the new institutions approved by the French. It was organized on September 28, 1958 and received more than 80% of "yes". The V e Republic was promulgated on October 4, 1958. It was a real break with parliamentary tradition:the executive was strengthened, as General de Gaulle wanted.
The 1958 Constitution attributes specific powers to the President of the Republic, unlike previous systems where it was only an honorary title. It is a parliamentary regime with strong presidential powers:the President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister and the members of the government, he can dissolve the National Assembly, organize referendums and promulgate laws, he is the head of the armies. According to Article 20 of the Constitution, the government must "determine and conduct the policy of the Nation" and is responsible to Parliament. The Constitutional Council is established to control that the laws are in conformity with the Constitution.
The first elected president of the V th Republic is General de Gaulle in the 1958 presidential elections by indirect universal suffrage.
Consequences
- The President of the Republic derives his legitimacy from his election by French citizens as enshrined in the Constitution. Since the constitutional reform of 1962, he has been elected by direct universal suffrage to strengthen his political legitimacy.
- The V e République is a stable republican regime which allows the succession of political alternations at the head of the state and during periods of cohabitation.