Politics in a semi-presidential regime France: Politics in a semi-presidential regime

Recap: French institutions Directly elected president – head of state -- gives overall direction to government policy Premier – head of government – hired and fired by the President – but must serve with the confidence of the National Assembly National Assembly (lower house) can censure the Premier and force/his or her renewal

Institutions and how they operate: Constitution was designed to increase the authority of the executive Constitution does so by strengthening the Premier and weakening the National Assembly Regime can be more presidential – president in direct command or more parliamentary, depending on who controls the National Assembly

The Fifth Republic Party System Like all French party systems, a multiparty system However, reflecting both the electoral law (double ballot – runoff system) and competition for a single indivisible office, parties tend to cluster in two blocs, the left and the right

The left Currently 3-4 parties: Communists (PCF) Socialists (PS) [Lionel Jospin] Greens/Ecologists Some radicals

The right: Gaulllists [Pres. Jacques Chirac] Currently organized as UMP – Union for a Popular Movement previously RPR,Rally for the Republic Typically nationalistic, statist Union of Democrats for France (liberal) National Front (FN) extreme right, led by Jean Marie Le Pen

Presidential elections President is elected in a two ballot or runoff system: To be elected on the first ballot, a candidate must win an absolute majority (50%+1) of the vote cast If no candidate wins on the first ballot, a second ballot is held 2 weeks later: Lower candidates are dropped Candidate with the most votes wins

Elections to the National Assembly Deputies are elected in single member districts on a two ballot or runoff system In order to be elected on the first ballot, a candidate must win an If no candidate has an absolute majority, then a second runoff ballot is held one week later Candidates winning less than 12.5 % (1/8) are dropped Candidate with the most votes – a plurality – wins

Balance among President, Premier and National Assembly: Presidential domination: Parties supporting President have a majority in the National Assembly President appoints and may remove the Premier Premier implements president’s program Parliamentary government Parties opposing president have a majority in the National Assembly National Assembly can censure premier if it chooses Outcome: either Stalemate and/or parliamentary elections OR Cohabitation – power-sharing

Presidential dominance: Parties supporting the President have a majority in the National Assembly President appoints a premier of his choice Premier carries out the President’s program, securing the passage of legislation as need National Assembly and Senate comply. Premier may make legislation a matter of confidence If he does so, the legislation passes unless 10% of deputies file a motion of censure The motion is passed by an absolute majority (50% +1) of the entire National Assembly

Parliamentary mode: Parties opposing the president have a majority in the National Assembly President may appoint premier of his choice, but National Assembly can censure If premier (and cabinet) are censured, they must resign President may then Dissolve the National Assembly and call for new elections (but only once per 12 month period) Appoint a premier acceptable to the National Assembly majority, resulting in cohabitation or power-sharing

French Presidents: 1958-1981, Presidents and parliaments from the right De Gaulle (1958-1969) Pompidou (1969-1973) Giscard de Estaing (1974-1981) 1981-1995: Francois Mitterand (PS) 1995-present: Jacques Chirac (RPR, UMP)

Incidence of cohabitation 1986-88 (Mitterand presidency) Right wins 1986 National Assembly elections Mitterand appoints Chirac as Premier 1993-95 Right wins National Assembly Mitterand appoints Balladur as Premier 1997-2002 (Chirac presidency) Chirac dissolves National Assembly Left majority Chirac appoints Socialist, Lionel Jospin as Premier

5th Republic Balance sheet: Regime is well established –and stable Less recourse to referenda Executive dominated However over time, Presidents become less dominant More give and take between parliament and the executive