France in the Hollande Presidency : the unhappy republic

An analysis of the first half of François Hollande's five-year presidential term that examines the strengths and weaknesses of presidential politics following the Left's return to power in 2012 and puts forward an interpretation of the underlying nature of contemporary French politics, and the French Fifth Republic. Through an analysis of the first half of Fraṅois Hollande's five-year presidential term, this study examines the strengths and weaknesses of presidential politics following the Left's return to power in 2012 and puts forward an interpretation of the underlying nature of contemporary French politics, and the Fifth Republic itself. The analysis demonstrates that the Fifth Republic is dysfunctional, because of the manner in which political observers and actors have understood or failed to understand this singular republic and its performative requirements. The book examines how Fraṅois Hollande, as President, acted 'out of category', and what the first half of the five-year term up until the creation of the Valls government, the European Elections, the publication of Vaľrie Trierweiler's book in 2014, and the return to frontline politics of Nicolas Sarkozy tells us about the nature of the Fifth Republic. Front Matter....Pages i-xi Understanding the French Presidency....Pages 1-15 The Normal President v. the Hyper President: Self-definition as Antithesis....Pages 16-35 From the Gaullist Settlement to Celebrity Politics....Pages 36-68 The First Year. The Normal President and Time....Pages 69-103 The Second Year. Presidential Character under Siege....Pages 104-138 Conclusion: Character and Performance in French Presidentialism....Pages 139-175 Back Matter....Pages 176-203 An analysis of the first half of Francois Hollande's five-year presidential term that examines the strengths and weaknesses of presidential politics following the Left's return to power in 2012 and puts forward an interpretation of the underlying nature of contemporary French politics, and the French Fifth Republic.