France under an American political system

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Please note that I am fully aware of the fact that Charles de Gaulle was no fan of the United States, but let's try to let that slide.

1958:

With the Fourth Republic falling into despair, Charles de Gaulle takes the helm of France, first as President of the Council, later as head of state through the Assembly's consent. The September 1958 referendum approved the Fifth Republic. Eager to create a system devoid of the Fourth Republic's utter failure and creating a stable government, de Gaulle turned to the American system, making a few changes. As per the 1958 Constitution, the President was elected through universal suffrage in a two-round system to a term of 4 years. The National Assembly was also elected by universal suffrage to a 4-year term. The Senate was also elected by the general electorate to 4-year, renewable terms.

1959:

The first elections were held in 1959. Charles de Gaulle, now the leader of France and a group of pro-Fifth Republic leaders, was selected as the candidate uniting the various pro-Republic forces, styled as the Union Nationale de la Republique (UNR). The French Communist Party (PCF) presented Georges Marrane while anti-Republic left groups nominated Albert Chatelet as the "opposition to the right". Due to de Gaulle's high popularity, and the popularity of the Republic, he won on the first round.

Charles de Gaulle (UNR) 62.3%
Georges Marrane (PCF) 29.3%
Albert Chatelet (SFIO-IND) 8.4%

The UNR, styled as the Union pour la 5eme Republique (UCR), won a overwhelming majority of seats in both the Senate and National Assembly.

Watch out for 1963, where it all begins to form.

[Colin]

Well the French do have probably the most powerful Presidency of  any other first world country besides the United States. Prime Ministers are usually just in the role of majority leader in the United States and while the President does have to compromise with the Legislative Assembly and Senate he is also the person who determines policy and is able to dictate policy and law on his own. So, really, the political set up of the Fifth Republic is possibly the closest to the United States of any other first world nation.

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1963:

With the system solidly installed, Charles de Gaulle ran for a second term. However, there was no union of the left and right forces, unlike 1959. Francois Mitterand ran for the SFIO, while Jean Lecanuet ran on an independent centrist platform.

Charles de Gaulle (UNR) 44.5%
Francois Mitterand (FGDS-SFIO) 36.5%
Jean Lecanuet (IND-CD) 15.60%
Jean-Louis Tixier-Vignancour (IND) 3.4%

2nd Round

Charles de Gaulle (UNR) 56.0%
Francois Mitterand (FGDS-SFIO) 44.0%

In legislative elections, the UNR won 229 seats, and the United Left parties won 150 seats. Other parties accounted for the remaining 67 seats. In Senatorial elections, the UNR won 230 of the 321 seats.

1967:

De Gaulle's second 4-year term was highly succesful and he decided to seek a third term.

Charles de Gaulle (UDR) 42.3%
Francois Mitterand (FGDS-SFIO) 41.2%
Pierre Marcilhacy (IND) 16.5%

2nd Round

Charles de Gaulle (UNR) 51.2%
Francois Mitterand (FGDS-SFIO) 48.8%

In legislative elections, the UDR won 200 seats, and the right had a majority of 292 seats.

[nclib]

Would anyone be able to make a guess as to which parts of France would vote Democratic and which Republican?

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Find a 2002 map. Most probably the regions Le Pen and Chirac won would go Republican (although some Chirac regions would go Dem) and the Socialist regions to the Dems. Remember UMP is less conservative than the GOP and the PS is more leftist than the Dems.

[Undisguised Sockpuppet]

So we have an even more leftist france? Yawn.

[Colin]

Find a 2002 map. Most probably the regions Le Pen and Chirac won would go Republican (although some Chirac regions would go Dem) and the Socialist regions to the Dems. Remember UMP is less conservative than the GOP and the PS is more leftist than the Dems.

Well that's not really the case. I'm sure if Al would take notice of this thread he would lambast you for saying something that simplistic. Also the 2002 map would have alot of regions won with 20% or 30% of the vote and the second round map is useless.

If we just transported the American Republican Party to France I could see Le Pen beating them if they came with the baggage of Republican policies and foreign hatred for the Republicans with them.