Powers of the President of the Republic in France - published: 29/10/2025

Extract

[...] The shared powers of the President of the Republic The shared powers require collaboration with the government or Parliament. Article 10 of the Constitution confers on the President of the Republic the 'right to promulgate laws adopted by Parliament within a period of fifteen days following their transmission'. He may also request a new deliberation of the law before Parliament. This power of promulgation is an example of how the President can indirectly influence the legislative process. A notable case was the use of the referendum by Charles de Gaulle to adopt the reform of the Senate in 1969. [...]

[...] What are the powers of the President of the Republic in France? The President of the Republic in France holds important and varied powers defined by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic of 1958. In his book Of the Spirit of Laws, Montesquieu established a theory according to which, in order to eliminate all despotism, the 'powers' executive, legislative, and judicial must be entrusted to distinct organs. Today, the principle of the separation of powers has constitutional value and is enshrined in Article 16 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789. [...]

[...] During these periods, the shared powers take on fundamental importance, as the President must work with a Prime Minister from the parliamentary majority, which can limit his influence on governmental and legislative decisions. Thus, during the cohabitation between former President of the Republic François Mitterrand and Prime Minister Jacques Chirac in 1986, domestic policy was mainly directed by the latter. In conclusion, the President of the Republic under the Fifth Republic has significant powers, both nationally and internationally. The distinction between proper powers and shared powers, as well as the impact of cohabitation, highlights the complexity and flexibility of this essential function for the proper functioning of French democracy. [...]

[...] In accordance with Article 15 of the Constitution, 'the President of the Republic is the head of the armed forces'. In this capacity, he chairs the nuclear policy council and the defense and national security council. He therefore has the power to decide on the use of French armed forces and to declare war, although the use of nuclear forces requires prior authorization from Parliament. This power symbolizes his central role in national defense. In addition, Article 52 of the Constitution assigns to the President the responsibility of leading diplomatic negotiations and signing international treaties. [...]