COUNTRY PERSPECTIVE
The shortest useful version of how power works here.
Executive authority is divided between a directly elected president and a government led by the prime minister.
Executive authority is divided between a directly elected president and a government led by the prime minister. The balance changes when the president and the National Assembly majority come from opposing camps.
The government is responsible to the National Assembly.
The government is responsible to the National Assembly. Parliament passes laws and scrutinizes government, while the president has important appointment, referendum, foreign-policy and dissolution powers defined by the Constitution.
The Constitutional Council reviews legislation and election matters.
The Constitutional Council reviews legislation and election matters. France remains unitary, although decentralization gives territorial authorities elected bodies and defined responsibilities.
Some political words change meaning across countries. These are the distinctions worth knowing first.
French “libéralisme” often points more directly to market economics than the US word “liberal”.
French “libéralisme” often points more directly to market economics than the US word “liberal”. The political centre also has its own republican and European integration traditions.
The left–right division emerged from French revolutionary history, but contemporary competition also includes strong arguments over sovereignty, European integration, immigration and presidential power.
Enough structure to make the rest of the page intelligible.
Only the events that help explain how today’s system got here.
The Revolution overturned the old regime; the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen became a lasting constitutional reference.
A new constitution strengthened executive institutions and created the framework still in force.
A constitutional change established election of the president by direct universal suffrage.
The presidential term was reduced from seven to five years, changing the rhythm of presidential and parliamentary elections.
Current-data work still open: Current office holders · Current National Assembly and party profiles · Latest national elections and turnout · Democracy, rights and civic-space dimensions · Long-term indicator trends