Abstract

COLLIARD, Jean-Claude. The power in the semi presidentialism. Cuest. Const. [online]. 2009, n.20, pp.85-102. ISSN 1405-9193.

Theoretically the semipresidentialism was proposed by Maurice Duverger in the late 70's to describe a group of countries adopting the French V Republic scheme (such as Finland, Island, Irland, Austria and Portugal), the past evolution of semi-presidential countries tend to reduce such a list to France and Portugal (the latest, presenting some exceptions; the former, apparently being excluded during cohabitation periods). The author explores basic forms of separation of powers, specifically between the Chief of State and parliamentary majority. Despite of representing a third kind of regime (frequently described as a "hybrid" type), semi-presidential countries belong rather to a parliamentary scheme, even though, modified with a "presidential corrective". In order to understand its characteristics, the author explores the role played by the Chief of State: on exerting its political and constitutional competences, he is able to become the guardian of the separation of powers system. The author explains as well the fact of cohabitation, which is an institutional effect due to non-coincidences of presidential and parliamentary majorities.

Keywords : Political regimes; semipresidentialism; French V Republic; cohabitation.

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