List of presidents of France
The president of France is the head of state of France, elected by popular vote for five years.
The first officeholder is considered to be Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, who was elected in 1848 but provoked the 1851 self-coup to later proclaim himself emperor as Napoleon III. His coup, which proved popular as he sought the restoration of universal male suffrage previously abolished by the legislature, granted the newly-established Second Empire firm ground.
A republican regime was given way again in 1870 through the Third Republic, after the fall of Napoleon III. A 1962 referendum held under the Fifth Republic at the request of President Charles de Gaulle transferred the election of the president of France from an electoral college to a popular vote. Since then, ten presidential elections have taken place. The 25th and current officeholder has been Emmanuel Macron since 14 May 2017.
First Republic (1792–1804)
National Convention
The National Convention was led by the President of the National Convention; the presidency rotated fortnightly.From 1793 the National Convention was dominated by its Committee of Public Safety, in which the leading figures were Georges Danton and then Maximilien Robespierre.
Directory
The Directory was officially led by a president, as stipulated by Article 141 of the Constitution of the Year III. An entirely ceremonial post, the first president was Jean-François Rewbell, who was chosen by lot on 2 November 1795. The Directors conducted their elections privately, with the presidency rotating every three months. The last President was Louis-Jérôme Gohier.The leading figure of the Directory was Paul Barras, the only director to serve throughout the Directory.
;Political parties
After the Coup of 18 Brumaire, Barras, Ducos, and Sieyès resigned.
Moulin and Gohier, refusing to resign, were arrested by General Moreau.
Consulate
Napoléon Bonaparte proclaimed himself Emperor of the French in 1804, reigning as Emperor Napoleon I 1804–1814 and 1815.The monarchy was restored 1814–1815 and 1815–1830 ; again 1830–1848.
Second Republic (1848–1852)
President of the Provisional Government of the Republic
;Political partiesPresident of the Executive Commission
;Political partiesChief of the Executive Power
;Political partiesPresident of the Republic
;Political parties''Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte proclaimed himself Emperor of the French in 1852, reigning as Emperor Napoleon III 1852–1870.''
Third Republic (1870–1940)
President of the Government of National Defense
;Political partiesChief of the Executive Power
;Political partiesPresidents of the Republic
;Political partiesThe office of President of the French Republic did not exist from 1940 until 1947.