As of Saturday, August 24, France has set a new record for its longest period under a caretaker government, marking 39 days since President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of Gabriel Attal’s government. This duration surpasses the previous record of nine days, established in 1962 during the presidency of Charles de Gaulle, following the resignation of Georges Pompidou’s first government.
A Historical Record
This extended transition period is unprecedented in the history of the Fifth Republic, which was established in 1958. Attal’s government has now surpassed the previous post-war record set during the Fourth Republic by René Mayer’s government in 1953, which lasted 38 days in a caretaker capacity.
The Fourth Republic, known for its political instability, saw 24 different governments over its 12-year existence, with governments often lasting only 13 days in caretaker mode. The Fifth Republic’s constitution was designed to avoid such instability, making the current situation all the more remarkable.
Context and International Comparison
The current caretaker government in France is awaiting the formation of a new government following the legislative elections held on June 30 and July 7. Despite this record, France’s situation is still far from the extremes seen in other parliamentary systems. For example, Belgium went 540 days without a full government between 2010 and 2011, and Lebanon endured 396 days without a government from 2020 to 2021.
As France navigates this extended period of political transition, concerns are growing, particularly in neighboring Belgium, which itself has been without a government for 76 days since its parliamentary elections on June 9. This parallel situation has heightened anxieties over parliamentary instability in both countries.
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