On 4 October 1958, France adopted the constitution of the Fifth Republic, establishing its current system of government. Created by Charles de Gaulle and Michel Debré, the hybrid constitution combines a directly elected five-year presidency with a parliamentary system. It grants the president powers to dissolve the National Assembly, call new parliamentary elections, change prime ministers, and reshuffle the government.
The referendum on 28 September 1958 presented French voters with a choice that ran counter to many republican traditions. The new constitution strengthened presidential powers to a degree earlier generations of French parliamentarians would never have accepted. Article 14, which extended presidential powers in a national emergency, raised fears it could be used to establish a dictatorship. The authority of the Chamber was diminished, and its laws submitted to a constitutional court, limiting the effects of universal suffrage.
Many Frenchmen of the left and centre voted for the constitution only with reluctance, despite de Gaulle's emphasis on its legality and the need for a strong executive. The referendum was not merely a vote on the constitution; it was also a decision on whether de Gaulle would continue in power and, for overseas territories, whether the link with metropolitan France would be maintained. A rejection risked civil war, while a 'no' from French Africa would end efforts to lead colonies towards self-government.
De Gaulle's masterly political manoeuvre was possible due to his personal prestige and widespread disgust with the weak Fourth Republic. Critics acknowledged his disinterested patriotism and distinguished mind, but questioned the validity of his constitutional recommendations. The Fourth Republic had broken down after repeated failures, lending authority to de Gaulle's proposals, though not all were equally sound.
