Constitution of 1958

French history

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July 1, 2026

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The Constitution of 1958 established the Fifth Republic of France, a system of government that significantly increased executive power at the expense of the National Assembly. This constitution was largely the work of Charles de Gaulle, who became the first president of the Fifth Republic in 1959. De Gaulle's vision was for a strong presidency, a concept he had advocated for years, contrasting with the weaker executive of the Fourth Republic. The new constitution aimed to provide greater governmental stability than had been seen in previous French republics.12

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France
The genesis of the 1958 constitution
When France fell into political turmoil after the May 1958 insurrection in Algeria (then still a French colony), General Charles de Gaulle, an outspoken critic of the postwar constitution who had served as the provisional head of government in the mid-1940s, returned to…
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When France fell into political turmoil after the May 1958 insurrection in Algeria (then still a French colony), General Charles de Gaulle, an outspoken critic of the postwar constitution who had served as the provisional head of government in the mid-1940s, returned to…
Read More