French Presidents of the 5th Republic
Charles de Gaulle 1958-69
Georges Pompidou 1969-74
Valery Giscard d’Estaing 1974-81
François Mitterrand 1981-95
Jacques Chirac 1995-present
Actual Prime Minister: Jean-Pierre Raffarin
Semi-presidentialism (Duverger)
►president independently and directly legitimated by
popular election
►has important executive powers which he shares
with
►the prime minister (head of government) who is sustained
by a
►parliament majority
main feature: two separately legitimated authorities (real
dual executive)
avoids shortfalls of pure presidential system, but still may
result in gridlock
in case of divided government (cohabitation)