Famous French Presidents

Europe’s cultural, political and military power, France is one of the developed countries of the world, with the sixth largest economy and ninth largest purchasing power parity. The country presently follows a unitary semi-presidential republic with the President as the executive head of the state of the French Fifth Republic. Though the executive powers of the day-to-day function are administered by the Prime Minister and his Cabinet of Ministers, the President of France wields significant influence and authority over national security and foreign policy. Unlike other European nations, French President holds a very powerful position. He holds the nation’s senior-most office, is the ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra, serves as the Grand Master of the Légion d'honneur and the Ordre national du Mérite and is the honorary proto-canon of the Basilica of St. John Lateran in Rome. He is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The office of the President as first formed on October 4, 1958, its first holder being Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte. Over the years, the office of the President has undergone numerous changes, the term shortened, the power augmented and so on. Also, many prominent politicians have held the chair of the President of France since its inception, right from Bonaparte to the incumbent Francois Hollande. Check this segment to find in detail about French presidents, their life, their journey to premiership and their work as the President.