Charles de Gaulle: The Birth of the Modern French Monarchy, the Fifth Republic

In his chapter, Bryan Muller explores the building of new institutions around the main French political leader of the post-Second World War period: General Charles de Gaulle. Having fought for the Resistance, he was a long-time advocate of the reinforcement of executive power, particularly that of the presidency. Capitalising on the favourable context of the Algerian War of Independence, de Gaulle dismantled the dominant parliamentarian political system in favour of a new, clearly presidential regime. Choosing loyal and discreet Prime Ministers, Charles de Gaulle unequivocally showed that he was at the centre of the government and its only source of legitimacy. He prevailed over other parties and in 1962 he secured, by referendum, the election of the President by universal suffrage. His re-election in 1965 was decisive and was to reshape French politics for decades. Conservatives, liberals and left-wing moderates were incapacitated for a while or absorbed by his new party, the UNR. Under the Gaullist model, the Prime Minister and the parliamentary majority were expected to adopt an acquiescent stance towards the President of the Republic.