Politics of France

After Charles de Gaulle had the constitution of the French Fifth Republic adopted in 1958, France was ruled by successive right-wing administrations until 1981. Throughout the 1960s, left-wing parties fared rather badly in national elections. The successive governments generally applied the Gaullist program of national independence, and modernization in a dirigiste fashion. The Gaullist government, however, was criticized for its heavy-handedness: while elections were free, the state had a monopoly on radio and TV broadcasting and sou ...

See also:

Politics of France, Politics of France - French politics under the Fifth Republic, Politics of France - Recent French politics, Politics of France - Political groups in France, Politics of France - Political parties, Politics of France - Political pressure groups and leaders

Read more here: » Politics of France: Encyclopedia II - Politics of France - French politics under the Fifth Republic

The current Constitution of France was adopted on October 4, 1958, and has been amended 17 times, most recently on March 28, 2003. It is typically called the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, and replaced that of the Fourth Republic dating from October 27, 1946. Charles de Gaulle was its main instigator; the constitution was drafted by Michel Debré. Constitution of France - Summary. The preamble of the constitution recalls the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen from 1789 and estab ...

Including:

• Constitution of France - Summary
• Constitution of France - Impact with respect to personal freedoms
• Constitution of France - Past constitutions

Read more here: » Constitution of France: Encyclopedia - Constitution of France

See National Front for a summary of Le Pen's political proposals. Le Pen is a controversial figure in France, but he consistently receives about 15%-18% of the vote. Opinions regarding Le Pen tend to be quite strong; a 2002 IPSOS poll showed that while 22% of the electorate have a good or very good opinion of Mr Le Pen, and 13% a favorable opinion, 61% have a very unfavorable opinion [1]. Le Pen and former National Front leader Bruno Mégret top the un ...

See also:

Jean-Marie Le Pen, Jean-Marie Le Pen - Biography, Jean-Marie Le Pen - Political career, Jean-Marie Le Pen - Controversy, Jean-Marie Le Pen - Quotes, Jean-Marie Le Pen - Notes

Read more here: » Jean-Marie Le Pen: Encyclopedia II - Jean-Marie Le Pen - Controversy

Up until September 2004 the French Senate had 321 senators who were elected for a 9-year term. After this date, the mandate was reduced to 6 years while the number of senators will progressively increase to 346 in 2010 in order to reflect changes in the French demography. Senators are elected by approximately 150,000 representatives of local administrative councils (and deputies of the National Assembly). This system introduces a bias in the composition of the Senate, which favors rural areas. As a consequence, while the political maj ...

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French Senate, French Senate - Composition and election, French Senate - Powers, French Senate - Controversy, French Senate - Location

Read more here: » French Senate: Encyclopedia II - French Senate - Composition and election

He was born in Poitiers. He studied law at the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas and later graduated from the Ecole Supérieure de Commerce de Paris business school. He was appointed Prime Minister of France by President Jacques Chirac after the latter's re-election as President in the 2002 presidential election. His political policies combined authority and moderate economical liberalism — that is, the support of laissez-faire economic policies. In 2003, he launched the reforms of the public retirement scheme and of dec ...

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Jean-Pierre Raffarin, Jean-Pierre Raffarin - Career, Jean-Pierre Raffarin - International policies, Jean-Pierre Raffarin - Raffarin's First Government, Jean-Pierre Raffarin - Minor Changes, Jean-Pierre Raffarin - Raffarin's Second Government, Jean-Pierre Raffarin - Minor changes, Jean-Pierre Raffarin - Raffarinades

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Dominique de Villepin - Diplomat. Villepin studied at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris (Sciences-Po) and went on to the École nationale d'administration, France's highly selective post-graduate school which trains its top civil servants. Villepin also holds degrees in law and literature from the universities of Paris II Panthéon-Assas and Paris X Nanterre. At the end of his studies, Villepin embraced a career in diplomacy. His assignments were: Advising Committee on African affairs ...

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Dominique de Villepin, Dominique de Villepin - Life, Dominique de Villepin - Origins, Dominique de Villepin - Career, Dominique de Villepin - Diplomat, Dominique de Villepin - Politician, Dominique de Villepin - Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin - Interior Minister, Dominique de Villepin - Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin - Presidential bid, Dominique de Villepin - Villepin's first cabinet, Dominique de Villepin - Membership, Dominique de Villepin - Bibliography: works written by Villepin himself, Dominique de Villepin - Bibliography: general, Dominique de Villepin - Quotes

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Claude Allègre used to work at the Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (Paris Institute for the Physics of the Globe). His important scientific work on geochemistry won him: the Crafoord Prize for geology, the Wollaston Medal of the Geological Society of London, the Golden Medal of the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique He is a member of: French Academy of Sciences, elected member on November 6, 1995. United States Nati ...

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Claude Allègre, Claude Allègre - Scientific work, Claude Allègre - Political career

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Jacques Chirac - First term as president. His 18 years as mayor of Paris finally proved the launching pad for his first successful bid for the French presidency. To win he had to first fend off a challenge from a fellow Gaullist – prime minister Édouard Balladur (who ran as an independent, though supported by a large share of Chirac's RPR, and finished third in the first round). He then narrowly beat Socialist Party challenger Lionel Jospin in the final runoff election. On his third attempt to win the French presidency, Jacques Chirac finally succ ...

See also:

Jacques Chirac, Jacques Chirac - Youth and studies, Jacques Chirac - Early political career, Jacques Chirac - Prime Minister 1974-76, Jacques Chirac - Chirac's First Ministry 28 May 1974 - 27 August 1976, Jacques Chirac - Chirac's Second Ministry 20 March 1986 - 12 May 1988, Jacques Chirac - Mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac - Action as a mayor, Jacques Chirac - The road to the presidency, Jacques Chirac - Presidency, Jacques Chirac - First term as president, Jacques Chirac - Second term as president, Jacques Chirac - Sources

Read more here: » Jacques Chirac: Encyclopedia II - Jacques Chirac - Presidency

Liberalism and radicalism in France - From Democrats or Liberals to Social and Democratic Republican Party. 1818: Former Feuillants formed the party of the Democrats (Démocrats), also named Liberals (Libéraux) 1848: A radical faction organised as the ⇒ Radicals 1879: The Democrats are reorganised as the Republicans (Républicains) 1901: The party disappeared, a left wing continued as the moderate liberal Democratic Republican Alliance ...

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Liberalism and radicalism in France, Liberalism and radicalism in France - Introduction, Liberalism and radicalism in France - The timeline, Liberalism and radicalism in France - From Democrats or Liberals to Social and Democratic Republican Party, Liberalism and radicalism in France - From Radicals to Parti Radical, Liberalism and radicalism in France - Rally of Left Republicans, Liberalism and radicalism in France - Republican Center, Liberalism and radicalism in France - From Movement of Left Radicals to Left Radical Party, Liberalism and radicalism in France - Liberal and radical leaders, Liberalism and radicalism in France - Liberal thinkers

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This statement of principles contained the kernel of a much more radical re-ordering of society than had yet taken place. A mere six weeks after the storming of the Bastille and barely three weeks after the abolition of feudalism, the Declaration put forward a doctrine of popular sovereignty and equal opportunity: "Article III – The principle of any sovereignty resides essentially in the ...

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Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen - Adoption of the Declaration, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen - Substance of the Declaration, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen - Women's rights, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen - Effect today, Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen - Compare to other countries' bills of rights

Read more here: » Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen: Encyclopedia II - Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen - Substance of the Declaration

The impetus behind the creation of the Fifth Republic was the Algerian Crisis. Although France had since parted with many of its colonies, such as many of those in West Africa and Southeast Asia, it still retained Algeria, which had a large French population which opposed decolonization. Algeria eventually became independent on July 5, 1962. Charles de Gaulle used the crisis as an opportunity to create a new French government with a stronger office of president, which before was largely that of a figurehead. French presidents, as in p ...

See also:

French Fifth Republic, French Fifth Republic - Foundation by Charles de Gaulle, French Fifth Republic - After De Gaulle

Read more here: » French Fifth Republic: Encyclopedia II - French Fifth Republic - Foundation by Charles de Gaulle

Auriol was born in Revel, Haute-Garonne on August 27, 1884, the son of a butcher. He earned a law degree at the Collège de Revel in 1904 and began his career as a lawyer in Toulouse. A committed socialist, Auriol co-founded the newspaper Le Midi Socialiste in 1908; he was head of the Association of Journalists in Toulouse at this time. Auriol entered the Chamber of Deputies as a socialist in 1914 as a representative for Muret; a year later he was elected mayor of Toulouse. After the breakup of the Parti Socialiste Unifé in 1920, Auriol became a founding member of the socialist SFIO party, opposed to the ...

See also:

Vincent Auriol, Vincent Auriol - Early life and politics, Vincent Auriol - Postwar life and presidency

Read more here: » Vincent Auriol: Encyclopedia II - Vincent Auriol - Early life and politics

The preamble of the constitution recalls the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen from 1789 and establishes France as a secular and democratic republic, deriving its sovereignty from the people. It provides for the election of the President and the Parliament, the selection of the Government, and the powers of each and the relations between them. It ensures judicial authority and creates a High Court of Justice, a Constitutional Council, and an Economic and Social Council. It was ...

See also:

Constitution of France, Constitution of France - Summary, Constitution of France - Impact with respect to personal freedoms, Constitution of France - Past constitutions

Read more here: » Constitution of France: Encyclopedia II - Constitution of France - Summary

When the Wilson scandals occasioned the downfall of Jules Grévy in December 1887, Carnot's reputation for integrity made him a candidate for the presidency, and he obtained the support of Georges Clemenceau and many others, so that he was elected by 616 votes out of 827. He assumed office at a critical period, when the republic was all but openly attacked by General Boulanger. President Carnot's ostensible part during this agitation was confined to augmenting his popularity by well-timed appearances on public occasions, which gained ...

See also:

Marie François Sadi Carnot, Marie François Sadi Carnot - Early life, Marie François Sadi Carnot - Presidency, Marie François Sadi Carnot - External link and reference

Read more here: » Marie François Sadi Carnot: Encyclopedia II - Marie François Sadi Carnot - Presidency

Anti-clericalism is a historical movement that opposes religious (generally Catholic) institutional power and influence in all aspects of public and political life, and the encroachment of religion in the everyday life of the citizen. It suggests a more active and partisan role than mere laïcité. The goal of anti-clericalism is to reduce religion to a purely private belief-system with no public profile or influence. Anti-clericalism has at times been violent, leading to attacks and seizure of church property. Anti-clericalism has tended to be associated with the left of the political spe ...

Including:

• Anti-clericalism - France
• Anti-clericalism - Italy
• Anti-clericalism - Mexico
• Anti-clericalism - Portugal
• Anti-clericalism - Spain
• Anti-clericalism - Communism

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In an address to the nation, Chirac has declared that the new cabinet's top priority would be to curb the unemployment level, which consistently hovers above 10%, calling for a "national mobilization" to that effect. Villepin's cabinet is marked by its small membership (for France), and its hierarchical unity: all members have the rank of minister, and there are no secretaries of State, the lowest cabinet member rank. The aim of this decision is for the cabinet to ...

See also:

Dominique de Villepin, Dominique de Villepin - Life, Dominique de Villepin - Origins, Dominique de Villepin - Career, Dominique de Villepin - Diplomat, Dominique de Villepin - Politician, Dominique de Villepin - Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin - Interior Minister, Dominique de Villepin - Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin - Presidential bid, Dominique de Villepin - Villepin's first cabinet, Dominique de Villepin - Membership, Dominique de Villepin - Bibliography: works written by Villepin himself, Dominique de Villepin - Bibliography: general, Dominique de Villepin - Quotes

Read more here: » Dominique de Villepin: Encyclopedia II - Dominique de Villepin - Villepin's first cabinet

After the war, Auriol presided over the constituent assemblies that drafted the constitution of the short-lived French Fourth Republic. He lobbied for a "third force" between the communists and Gaullists. He led the French delegation to the United Nations and was France's first representative on the United Nations Security Council in 1946. The National Assembly voted him the first President of the Fourth Republic on January 16, 1947 by a wide margin, giving Auriol 452 vo ...

See also:

Vincent Auriol, Vincent Auriol - Early life and politics, Vincent Auriol - Postwar life and presidency

Read more here: » Vincent Auriol: Encyclopedia II - Vincent Auriol - Postwar life and presidency

Le Pen was born at La Trinité-sur-Mer, a small Breton harbour, as the son of a fisherman. Le Pen was orphaned as an adolescent; his father's boat was blown up by a mine. Nowadays he is a wealthy businessman, mostly because of a large inheritance received in 1977 from a political supporter. Le Pen studied political science and law, and was at one time the president of an association of law students in Paris. His graduate studies thesis, presented in 1971 by Jean-Marie Le Pen and Jean-Loup Vincent, is entitled Le courant anarchiste en France depuis 1945 or ...

See also:

Jean-Marie Le Pen, Jean-Marie Le Pen - Biography, Jean-Marie Le Pen - Political career, Jean-Marie Le Pen - Controversy, Jean-Marie Le Pen - Quotes, Jean-Marie Le Pen - Notes

Read more here: » Jean-Marie Le Pen: Encyclopedia II - Jean-Marie Le Pen - Biography

According to the French Constitution, the Senate has almost the same powers as the National Assembly. Bills may be submitted by the government ("projets de loi" or law projects) or by each house of the Parliament ("propositions de loi" or law proposals). Both houses must adopt the law before it can be promulgated. Because both houses may amend the bill, it may take several readings to reach an agreement between the National Assembly and the Senate. When the Senate and the National Assembly cannot agree on a bill, the government can de ...

See also:

French Senate, French Senate - Composition and election, French Senate - Powers, French Senate - Controversy, French Senate - Location

Read more here: » French Senate: Encyclopedia II - French Senate - Powers

Villepin was born in Rabat, Morocco and raised in Latin America; Venezuela being among the countries he lived in. His lyrical texts and passion for France won him awards in 2001 for his book about the last 100 days of Napoleon's rule, entitled "Les Cent-jours, ou L'esprit de sacrifice" (see Bibliography, below). Dominique de Villepin - Origins. Although it is largely believed that the French particle "de" is a sign of nobility, a large part of the people with such particle are in fact not nobility, ...

See also:

Dominique de Villepin, Dominique de Villepin - Life, Dominique de Villepin - Origins, Dominique de Villepin - Career, Dominique de Villepin - Diplomat, Dominique de Villepin - Politician, Dominique de Villepin - Foreign Minister, Dominique de Villepin - Interior Minister, Dominique de Villepin - Prime Minister, Dominique de Villepin - Presidential bid, Dominique de Villepin - Villepin's first cabinet, Dominique de Villepin - Membership, Dominique de Villepin - Bibliography: works written by Villepin himself, Dominique de Villepin - Bibliography: general, Dominique de Villepin - Quotes

Read more here: » Dominique de Villepin: Encyclopedia II - Dominique de Villepin - Life