French constitutional referendum, 2000
Encyclopedia
A constitutional referendum was held in France
on 24 September 2000. The proposals would result in the mandate
of the President
being reduced from seven years to five years in line with terms in office in other European countries. It was approved by 73.2% of voters, although turnout was just 30.2%.
The aim of the quinquennat
(five-year term) was to have the legislative election immediately succeed the presidential election (as in 2007, the presidential election took place in April–May 2007
, while the legislative election took place in June
), thus providing similar electoral results and reducing the risk of a cohabitation
.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on 24 September 2000. The proposals would result in the mandate
Mandate (politics)
In politics, a mandate is the authority granted by a constituency to act as its representative.The concept of a government having a legitimate mandate to govern via the fair winning of a democratic election is a central idea of democracy...
of the President
President of the French Republic
The President of the French Republic colloquially referred to in English as the President of France, is France's elected Head of State....
being reduced from seven years to five years in line with terms in office in other European countries. It was approved by 73.2% of voters, although turnout was just 30.2%.
The aim of the quinquennat
Quinquennat
The quinquennat is literally the five-year term served by each President of France. It was introduced following the French constitutional referendum in 2000, when the previous seven-year term was replaced. The idea was first floated by Georges Pompidou in 1973....
(five-year term) was to have the legislative election immediately succeed the presidential election (as in 2007, the presidential election took place in April–May 2007
French presidential election, 2007
The 2007 French presidential election, the ninth of the Fifth French Republic was held to elect the successor to Jacques Chirac as president of France for a five-year term.The winner, decided on 5 and 6 May 2007, was Nicolas Sarkozy...
, while the legislative election took place in June
French legislative election, 2007
The French legislative elections took place on 10 June and 17 June 2007 to elect the 13th National Assembly of the Fifth Republic, a few weeks after the French presidential election run-off on 6 May. 7,639 candidates stood for 577 seats, including France's overseas possessions...
), thus providing similar electoral results and reducing the risk of a cohabitation
Cohabitation (government)
Cohabitation in government occurs in semi-presidential systems, such as France's system, when the President is from a different political party than the majority of the members of parliament. It occurs because such a system forces the president to name a premier that will be acceptable to the...
.
Results
| Choice | Metropolitan France Metropolitan France Metropolitan France is the part of France located in Europe. It can also be described as mainland France or as the French mainland and the island of Corsica... |
Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Votes | % | Votes | % | ||
| For | 7,372,976 | 73.2 | 7,407,697 | 73.2 | |
| Against | 2,703,657 | 26.8 | 2,710,651 | 26.8 | |
| Invalid/blank votes | 1,939,282 | – | 1,940,340 | – | |
| Total | 12,015,915 | 100 | 12,058,688 | 100 | |
| Registered voters/turnout | 39,631,063 | 30.3 | 39,941,192 | 30.2 | |
| Source: Nohlen & Stöver | |||||
External links
- Proclamation of the results of the referendum of 24 September 2000, Constitutional Council of FranceConstitutional Council of FranceThe Constitutional Council is the highest constitutional authority in France. It was established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic on 4 October 1958, and its duty is to ensure that the principles and rules of the constitution are upheld.Its main activity is to rule on whether proposed...
, 28 September 2000 - Decree 2000-655 of 12 July 2000, from the President of FrancePresident of the RepublicThe President of the Republic is a title used for heads of government or heads of state in some republics:*President of Argentina, the Presidente de la República Argentina* President of Brazil, the Presidente da República Federativa do Brasil...
, submitting a constitutional amendment to referendum - French poll sounds alarm to political elite The GuardianThe GuardianThe Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, 26 September 2000