The Birth of the Fifth Republic

The story of France's Fifth Republic begins not with triumph, but with crisis. In May 1958, France teetered on the brink of civil war. The Fourth Republic, established after World War II, was collapsing under the weight of the Algerian War and chronic governmental instability. In twelve years, the Fourth Republic had seen twenty-four different governments, each lasting an average of six months. This perpetual political crisis paralyzed decision-making and eroded public confidence in democratic institutions.

Into this chaos stepped Charles de Gaulle, the wartime leader who had withdrawn from politics in 1946. De Gaulle agreed to return to power on one condition: France must adopt a new constitution that would create a stable, effective government capable of decisive action. His vision would fundamentally reshape French democracy.