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THE FOUNDING OF THE FIFTH REPUBLIC |
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LINK TO... FIFTH REPUBLIC |
 The government proved inadequate in post-war France, and the Algerian crisis in 1958 proved the need for a strong executive. The Algerian Revolution of 1958 came after several other colonial struggles that the French lost. Algerian nationalist forces had been resisting French rule since 1954, and in 1958, a French army bombing in Algeria caused a dispute that brought down the government of Prime Minister Felix Gaillard. Politicians turned to their old hero, De Gaulle, who was given sweeping new powers to address the Algerian crisis and reshape French politics. In 1958, De Gaulle created the Fifth Republic. Once again, France turned to a "strong man" to save it from chaos, and citizens and other government officials gave De Gaulle almost complete authority to craft a government to his liking. The Fifth Republic has survived for more than 40 years, and the Constitution written in 1958 defined the government structure and powers that survive today. Hear a translation of Charles deGaulle's famous speech about the Algerian crisis.
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