A constitutional referendum was held in France on 24 September 2000.
[ Dieter Nohlen & Philip Stöver (2010) ''Elections in Europe: A data handbook'', p674 ] The proposal to reduce the
mandate of the
President
President most commonly refers to:
*President (corporate title)
* President (education), a leader of a college or university
* President (government title)
President may also refer to:
Automobiles
* Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ...
from seven years to five years was approved by 73.2% of those who voted, but turnout was just 30.2%.
[Nohlen & Stöver, p687]
Background
The idea of a five-year term was discussed during the French parliamentary session of 1848, but rejected in favor of a four-year term. A seven-year term was adopted in 1873 for what became the Third Republic. In 2000,
Jacques Chirac led the campaign for the referendum reducing the President's term from seven to five years. After he was re-elected in 2002, his term ended in
2007 rather than 2009. The aim of the ''quinquennat'' (five-year term) was for the legislative elections to follow the presidential election (as the
presidential election took place in April–May 2007, while the
legislative election took place in June), providing similar electoral results and reducing the risk of
cohabitation
Cohabitation is an arrangement where people who are not married, usually couples, live together. They are often involved in a romantic or sexually intimate relationship on a long-term or permanent basis. Such arrangements have become increas ...
.
Results
See also
*
Constitutional amendments under the Fifth French Republic
*
Sexenio (Mexico) {{unreferenced, date=May 2013
''Sexenio'' is the popular term for the term of office on the President of Mexico. The president is limited to a single six-year term, and no one who holds the office even on a caretaker basis is permitted to run for or ...
References
External links
Proclamation of the results of the referendum of 24 September 2000 Constitutional Council of France
The Constitutional Council (french: Conseil constitutionnel; ) is the highest constitutional authority in France. It was established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic on 4 October 1958 to ensure that constitutional principles and rules ...
, 28 September 2000
Decree 2000-655 of 12 July 2000 from the
President of France
The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic (french: Président de la République française), is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency i ...
, submitting a constitutional amendment to referendum
"French poll sounds alarm to political elite" ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'', 26 September 2000
Term limits
2000 elections in France
France
France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...
Constitutional amendments
Referendums in France
Constitutional referendums in France
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