FRANCE - POLITICS

The French Republic is a unitary semi-presidential republic with strong democratic traditions. The constitution of the Fifth Republic was approved by referendum on 28 September 1958. It greatly strengthened the authority of the executive in relation to parliament. The executive branch itself has two leaders: the President of the Republic, who is elected directly by universal adult suffrage for a 5-year term (formerly 7 years) and is the Head of State, and the Government, led by the president-appointed Prime Minister.

The French parliament is a bicameral legislature comprising a National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) and a Senate. The National Assembly deputies represent local constituencies and are directly elected for 5-year terms. The Assembly has the power to dismiss the cabinet, and thus the majority in the Assembly determines the choice of government. Senators are chosen by an electoral college for 6-year terms (originally 9-year terms), and one half of the seats are submitted to election every 3 years starting in September 2008.[20] The Senate’s legislative powers are limited; in the event of disagreement between the two chambers, the National Assembly has the final say, except for constitutional laws and ,,lois organiques" (laws that are directly provided for by the constitution) in some cases. The government has a strong influence in shaping the agenda of Parliament.

French politics are characterized by two politically opposed groupings: one left-wing, centre around the French Socialist Party, and the other right-wing, centre previously around the ,,Rassemblement pour la République" (RPR) and now its successor the Union for a Popular Movement. The executive branch is currently composed mostly of the UPM.

Head of state: Nicolas Sarkozy (UPM) - President

Head of Goverment: François Fillon (UPM) - Prime Minister

Last national elections: 2007

Last national elections: 2007

http://www.parties-and-elections.de/france.html

Last European Parliament election June 2009

See:
http://www.electoralgeography.com/new/en/countries/f/france/france-european-parliament-election-2009.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Parliament_election,_2009_(France)