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For a long time, the French presidency was a mainly ceremonial role.
But that came to an end with the arrival of a new constitution in 1958.
.. with the Fifth Republic's first President, General de Gaulle, determined to bolster presidential powers to end years of weak government.
First of all, there are the President's powers of appointment.
The President directly appoints the Prime Minister.
The French Head of State can also dissolve the national assembly, and call referendums on proposed changes to the law.
The President is the head of the armed forces...
The president can call upon the constitutional council for advice on new laws.. and appoints three of the council's nine members.
... and if national independence, territorial integrity or established treaties come under threat, the President also has recourse to a host of supplementary executive powers.
Along with the Prime Minister the French Head of State appoints all members of the government.
He or she can also grant individual pardons - a prerogative inherited from the time of monarchy. The French President is a powerful individual, which means the stakes are high: turnout for presidential elections is the highest of any vote in France.
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