ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 considers the evolution of France’s political system during the Fifth Republic (1958-2003), paying particular attention to the terms in office of the five Presidents since 1958. The events surrounding the creation of the Fifth Republic had their origins in the Algerian crisis, which had sapped the energy of the Fourth Republic since November 1954. On 13 May 1958, rebellious military officers, backed by rioting European settlers, finally overthrew the legal government in Algiers. The conspirators threatened to extend the rebellion to mainland France, unless General de Gaulle was called upon to lead the nation’s affairs. To reinforce their point, French paratroopers invaded Corsica on 28 May 1958 and plans were advanced for a military movement on Paris itself. Under threat of military invasion and possible civil war, the National Assembly invested Charles de Gaulle as the last premier of the Fourth Republic on 1 June 1958. De Gaulle immediately suspended the constitution of the Fourth Republic, and was granted authority to draw up a new constitution, which was overwhelmingly ratified by constitutional referendum in September 1958. General Charles de Gaulle became the Fifth Republic’s first President in January 1959.
