REP08-1/12CP : France - 12 maxi cards Presidents of the 5th Republic 1958-2008

FRANCE - 50 YEARS OF THE FIFTH REPUBLIC 1958 - 2008

New philatelic issues in France and New Caledonia celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1958 Constitution, at the origin of the Fifth Republic.

History: In May 1958, France experienced serious instability within its government due to the crisis caused by the war in Algeria. To remedy this, the Parliament demanded the return of General de Gaulle to power as President of the Council. The latter agreed on condition that he obtained full powers for six months and that he could amend the Constitution. The National Assembly gave him a mandate on June 3, 1958, while laying down certain principles for revision. The new Constitution, desired by de Gaulle and drawn up by Michel Debré, then Keeper of the Seals, was submitted to a referendum among the French people on September 28. Adopted by nearly 83% of the votes, the Constitution was promulgated on October 4, 1958. Inspired by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789, the Constitution of 1958, still in force today, specifies in particular the powers of the government , the responsibilities of the president as head of the armed forces, the principle of democracy, the establishment of a strong executive power, the maintenance of the parliamentary system ... Fifty years later, the constitutional text, reworked and amended by several revisions to be adapted to its environment, established a stability of powers and political action while preserving the achievements of democracy