Readings Flashcards
De Gaulle’s speech before the municipal council of Bayeux: June 16, 1946
de Gaulle presents a new idea of what France and its institutions should be through a speech (one of the first cities liberated by the allied forces)
deep criticism of previous institutions of the III and IV republics, namely the multi-party parliamentary system
a new institutional vision and a will for a modern constitutional era - more democratic legitimacy for president and rebalancing executive and legislative power
Debré’s Speech to Council of State, August 27, 1958
transition between IV and V republic as de Gaulle’s government tasked to write a new constitution (state of deep crisis and a sense of urgency)
trying to find a compromise between de Gaulle’s vision and the constraints placed by the constitutional law of June 3
advocating for rationalised parliamentarism + notion of collaboration of power
Preamble of the Constitution of 1946
remains a fundamentally important text of our current constitution and the constitutionality bloc
the reaffirmation of the republican fundamental principles and of ‘classical’ liberties - republicanism in crisis after WWII
need of socio-economic progress for a new era
QPC n°2018-717/718 July 6, 2018
constitutionality of the principle of fraternity is called into question with regards to humanitarian aid given to the movement of illegal foreigners within the national territory
Leon Blum, excerpts from the “populaire”, June 21, 1946
warning the constituent assembly and the people about a presidential system described by the Bayeux speech
General De Gaulle, Press conference, January 31, 1964
growing trend towards a presidential system due to greater democratic legitimacy of the president after the 1962 change
diminished parliamentary power and prerogatives
distinction between roles of PM and PR - concept of diarchy introduced
Parliamentary debates between the Prime Minister and François Mitterrand - 24 April 1964 - National assembly
follows the January 14th, 1964 decree on strategic air forces, which made nuclear deterrence a presidential prerogative
Mitterand thus generally criticizes the weaknesses of Parliament and government, as well as the President’s exclusive control of foreign affairs and defence of the nation
Mitterrand’s Message to Parliament, April 8, 1986
Mitterrand uses article 18 to address the Parliament (extremely rare for PRs to do this)
a will to affirm presidential power despite this new political situation of cohabitation
Statement from Georges Pompidou, publicly questioned by F. Mitterrand in 1964
reemphasis on prerogatives that the PR actually has - fact that they do exist and that the PR does not completely overshadow the PM
