French Political System Exploration: How & why it’s different to the United States of America

Image credit: Ludovic Marin/Pool/AFP

The drawn-out delay in appointing a Prime Minister in France this year is not just a failure of politics—it’s a deliberate consequence of the constitution. The Fifth Republic, born of the postwar instability, is designed to facilitate the powers of the President.

So, when the President bypassed the leading party, it was simply the system’s bias in action.

The Fifth Republic was born out of the chaos of the Fourth Republic.

Back in May 1958, during the Algerian War, riots in Algiers sparked a major political crisis in Paris. The system, plagued by instability, was on the brink of collapse. In its twelve-year existence, France saw twenty-four different governments come and go.

Faced with the threat of a military coup and ongoing conflict in Algeria, Charles de Gaulle took the lead promising to restore order. With the help of Justice Minister Michel Debré, de Gaulle drafted a new constitution aimed at ensuring a stable and effective executive.

Voters overwhelmingly approved the new constitution in a referendum in September 1958. It had at least one clear idea: create a government that could actually govern. The executive was given primacy, designed to avoid the gridlock that had crippled the previous system.

The Fifth Republic still depends on democratic elections and the familiar three branches of government like the US. But it skews the balance towards the President—and by extension, the state. In uncertainty or peril, decisions could still be made.

The French system doesn’t just imitate American ideas; it amplifies them.

Alexander Hamilton once wrote that:

“Energy in the Executive is a leading character in the definition of good government.”

But, the key difference is that, unlike in the US, where powers are strictly separated and more or less independent, the French constitution intentionally blurs the lines between the branches to keep the executive strong.

This setup reflects a long French tradition of powerful and sometimes tyrannical leaders. Even after the monarchy fell, figures like Robespierre or Napoleon shaped the political landscape with their dominant personalities.

Charles De Gaulle, who helped establish the Fifth Republic, was no different—a towering figure in French politics who embodied the very executive strength that the constitution enshrines.

Understanding the power of the President

One critical aspect of the constitution is the President’s power to appoint the Prime Minister (Article 8) and to do so unilaterally (Article 19). This gives the President a direct string into the legislative branch, enabling them to pick a Prime Minister who can form a government. It’s a built-in mechanism allowing the President to wiggle around legislative gridlock—a design feature that was recently put to the test.

In the most recent election, no party secured the 289 seats needed for an absolute majority. The biggest party, the Nouveau Front Populaire, collected 193 seats. Yet, they struggled to unite behind a single candidate. And confident of its lead, they did not attract other parties to secure the decisive majority.

Their claim to parliamentary power was shaky.

So, when the Left Bloc demanded that their leader be nominated as Prime Minister, Macron refused, making use of his constitutional power. He explained that their government would be exposed to collapse by a censure vote, which is passed with an absolute majority – 289 seats. In other words, it was not functional.

The result?

Macron chose to form a government from smaller parties, completely sidelining the Left Bloc’s electoral gains. They called this a “denial of democracy,” but Macron argued that the system wasn’t designed to let a relative majority—no matter how vocal—stall governance.

His decision underscores the flexibility—and arguably, the flaws—of the Fifth Republic: in the absence of clear majorities, the President can step in and exert significant influence over the formation of government.

A not so friendly tweet highlighting the size of the party from which Barnier was sourced. (X – Twitter).

There have been rare moments when Presidents have accepted cohabitation with opposing parties, even without an absolute majority. But these are exceptions.

While elections still matter, of course, the Constitution subtly bends in favour of the Presidency, which is elected directly. This presidential bias is a reflection of France’s historical yearning for strong leadership.

The long delay seen in France was not a failure. It was just how the French system was designed to work in uncertain situations.

It doesn’t just allow the President to govern—it practically demands it.

-> Introducing Hugh Vuillier as a new Contributor to MyFrenchLife Magazine.
His first charter is to help us explore and better understand the French Political System in a three-part mini-series. I’ve had many enquiries since the recent election and the delay in the announcement of the PM… Read his first article and see if it helps you understand the system behind those delays.
Also, Hugh is encouraging you to ask him questions. The more the better 🙂 Hugh is a politics and economics writer based in London. He publishes the Europe Letter.

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