ABSTRACT
The Fifth Republic has experienced coalition government, dominant-party government and even several years of cohabitation. It could be said, therefore, that all facets of the complex relationship between President, government and parliament have been explored. But one fact is constant and bears no exception: the government is always the expression of the majority in the National Assembly (a relative majority only from 1988 to 1991). The governmental structure, from this point of view, is much nearer the parliamentary than the presidential model, where the President always chooses the Ministers, whatever the majority within the legislative chambers. This formative principle of government under the Fifth Republic was hidden by the head of state’s broad margin for manoeuvre in the choice of Ministers and, especially, of the Prime Minister, when supported by a faithful majority. People tended to assume the head of state had total freedom. In practice, during cohabitation, the President can hardly do other than ratify the Prime Minister’s choice, though he can exercise a veto – but only with discretion – over inappropriate nominations. In ‘normal’ times the President can propose, even impose, Ministers to whom the Prime Minister is hostile.
