The last French presidents

January 8, 2023

The current system of presidential elections in France has been in place since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958. Under this system, the president of France is elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term in a two-round system. The first presidential election under the Fifth Republic was held in 1959, and was won by Charles de Gaulle.

Vincent Auriol (1947 - 1954)

Vincent Auriol served as the President of France during the Fourth Republic from 1947 to 1954. He was born on October 6, 1884 in Castelnaudary, France. Auriol was a member of the center-left Socialist Party and held several elected offices, including Mayor of Toulouse and Senator.

René Coty (1954 - 1959)

René Coty was a French politician who served as the President of France during the Fouth Republic from 1954 to 1959. He was born on March 25, 1882 in Cherbourg, France. Coty was a member of the center-right Republican Party and held several elected offices, including Mayor of Cherbourg and Senator. Coty was known for his efforts to promote national reconciliation and for his support for the French colonies in Africa.

Charles de Gaulle (1959 - 1969)

Charles de Gaulle was born on November 22, 1890 in Lille, France. De Gaulle was a military officer and a key leader of the Free French forces during World War II. He played a central role in the establishment of the Fifth Republic and served as its first president. De Gaulle was a controversial figure and his presidency was marked by a number of significant events, including the Algerian War, the student and worker uprisings of 1968, and the May 1968 crisis.

Georges Pompidou (1969 - 1974)

Georges Pompidou was a French politician who served as the President of France from 1969 to 1974. He was born on July 5, 1911 in Montboudif, France. Pompidou was a member of the center-right Gaullist party and held several elected offices, including Prime Minister of France. He served one term as president before his death in office in 1974.

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing (1974 - 1981)

Valéry Giscard d’Estaing was born on February 2, 1926 in Koblenz, Germany. Giscard d’Estaing was a member of the center-right Independent Republican party and held several elected offices, including Minister of Finance and Minister of the Economy. In 1974, Giscard d’Estaing was elected president, defeating incumbent Georges Pompidou in a closely contested election.

François Mitterrand (1981 - 1995)

François Mitterrand was a French politician who served as the President of France from 1981 to 1995 in two terms. He was born on October 26, 1916 in Jarnac, France. Mitterrand was a member of the Socialist Party and held several elected offices, including Mayor of Château-Chinon and Minister of Justice.

Jacques Chirac (1995 - 2007)

Jacques Chirac, born on November 29, 1932 in Paris, France, served as the President of France from 1995 to 2007. Chirac was a member of the center-right Gaullist party and held several elected offices, including Mayor of Paris and Prime Minister of France.

Nicolas Sarkozy (2007 - 2012)

Nicolas Sarkozy was born on January 28, 1955 in Paris, France. He served as the President of France from 2007 to 2012. Before his election, Sarkozy was a member of the center-right Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party and held several elected offices, including Minister of the Interior and Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine.

François Hollande (2012 - 2017)

François Hollande was born on August 12, 1954 in Rouen, France. He is a French politician who served as the President of France from 2012 to 2017. Before becoming president, Hollande was a member of the Socialist Party and held several elected offices, including Mayor of Tulle and President of the General Council of Corrèze.

Emmanuel Macron (2017 - present)

Emmanuel Macron was born on December 21, 1977 in Amiens, France. He is the youngest president in French history, having taken office at the age of 39. Before, Macron had a successful career as a civil servant and investment banker, and later served as Minister of the Economy, Industry, and Digital Affairs under President François Hollande. In 2016, he founded the La République En Marche! party and was elected president in 2017.