Key Moments: Executive Power in Action

1958-1962: De Gaulle Establishes Presidential Supremacy Through decisive handling of the Algerian crisis and constitutional interpretation, de Gaulle transforms the presidency from arbiter to active leader.

1981: Mitterrand's Socialist Victory First left-wing president demonstrates institutional continuity despite ideological change, confirming the Fifth Republic's adaptability.

1986: First Cohabitation Tests the System Mitterrand and Chirac establish precedents for power-sharing that prove the Constitution's flexibility.

2002: Chirac's Landslide and Electoral Calendar Reform Overwhelming victory against far-right candidate Le Pen, combined with five-year term implementation, reinforces presidential centrality.

2017: Macron's Outsider Victory Election of a centrist candidate outside traditional parties demonstrates the presidency's ability to transcend established political structures.

2020: COVID-19 Crisis Management President Macron's wartime rhetoric and expanded executive action during the pandemic shows how crises enhance presidential authority within democratic bounds.