How did the French Fifth Republic differ from previous political systems in France?

The French Fifth Republic, established in 1958, marked a significant departure from previous political systems in France. It was created in response to a crisis known as the Algerian War, which threatened the stability of the Fourth Republic. The Fifth Republic was designed to be more stable, efficient, and capable of responding to crises. It was also intended to give the President of France more power and authority than in previous republics.

One of the most important features of the Fifth Republic was the creation of a semi-presidential system of government. In this system, the President of France serves as the head of state and the Prime Minister serves as the head of government. This system was designed to give the President more power and to make the government more efficient.

Another major difference between the Fifth Republic and previous republics was the introduction of direct presidential elections. Prior to the Fifth Republic, the President of France was elected by an electoral college made up of members of parliament and other officials. With direct presidential elections, the President was now elected by the people.

The Fifth Republic also introduced several other reforms, including the establishment of a Constitutional Council to oversee the constitutionality of laws, and the creation of a Senate to represent the regions of France.

Overall, the French Fifth Republic marked a significant departure from previous political systems in France. It was designed to be more stable, efficient, and capable of responding to crises. It also gave the President of France more power and authority than in previous republics, and introduced several important reforms that helped to modernize French politics.