Политическая структура Франции сформировалась в the result of a long constitutional development and the repeated alternation of republican and monarchical models of government. The unique history of the country has caused a number of features of its power system. The head of state is the president, who is vested with quite broad powers. What is the place of the French Prime Minister in the political system? To answer this question, it is necessary to turn to the sources of the current constitution of the country.
Fifth Republic
The end of World War II became the starting point.modern political history of France. The liberation of the country from the fascist occupation gave impetus to the establishment of a democratic system and the adoption of an appropriate constitution. The new fundamental law came into force in 1946. It began the historical period, which was called the Fourth Republic (the three previous ones were created and abolished after the French Revolution).
In 1958, the threat of civil war forcedrevise the constitution and strengthen the power of the president, which at that moment was General Charles de Gaulle. This initiative was supported by the bourgeois parties that had a majority in parliament. As a result of these events, the country's political history has entered the era of the Fifth Republic, which continues to this day.
Constitution
One of the important compromises achieved duringnegotiations between General Charles de Gaulle and members of parliament, was an agreement on the division of functions of the President and the Prime Minister of France. Joint efforts were developed principles that formed the basis of the new constitution. They provided for the election of the head of state exclusively by universal suffrage, the mandatory separation of the three branches of government and an independent judiciary.
The new fundamental law established the form of government,which combines the features of a presidential and parliamentary republic. The 1958 Constitution gives the head of state the right to appoint members of the cabinet of ministers. However, the government, in turn, is responsible to parliament. The Basic Law of the Fifth Republic was revised several times in connection with the granting of independence to colonies and the abolition of the death penalty, but its main principles remained unchanged.
Political structure
The system of state power includesPresident, Prime Minister of France, the government and the parliament, divided into two chambers: the National Assembly and the Senate. In addition, there is the Constitutional Council. This is a consultative body, which includes members of parliament and government members.
The role of the president
The 1958 Constitution reflects the views of the generalCharles de Gaulle on polity. A distinctive feature of the basic law of the Fifth Republic is the concentration of political power in the hands of the president. The head of state has considerable freedom of action in the formation of a new cabinet and personally selects candidates for the highest posts in the government. French Prime Minister appointed by the President. The only condition for the final approval in this post is the National Assembly’s confidence in the candidate nominated by the first person in the country.
Глава государства наделён особыми полномочиями в lawmaking. Acts adopted by parliament come into force only after their approval by the president. He has the right to return the bill for re-consideration. In addition, the head of state issues decrees and decrees that require approval only by the French Prime Minister.
The President of the Fifth Republic is the leaderexecutive branch of government and at the same time has the ability to some extent influence the work of the legislative body of the country. This practice fits into the concept proposed by Charles de Gaulle of the national leader, acting as a general arbitrator.
The role of the Prime Minister
The head of government is responsible for implementingdomestic and economic policies. The Prime Minister of France performs the duties of a chairman at meetings of interdepartmental committees. He proposes candidates for ministerial posts for further approval by the head of state. If the chairman of the government wants to resign, he needs to submit an application to the president, which the latter can accept or reject. It is worth noting that in the history of the Fifth Republic there was an example of the repeated Prime Minister of France. Jacques Chirac held this position twice under presidents Valerie d "Estenay and François Mitterand.
If the opposition party makes up the majorityin the National Assembly, the head of state cannot appoint the prime minister at his discretion. In this case, the power of the French president is significantly limited.
