REP08-NC FDC New Caledonia "Fifth French Republic 1958-2008 DE GAULLE - DEBRÉ"

New philatelic issues in France and New Caledonia celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1958 Constitution, the origin of the Fifth Republic.

History: In May 1958, France was experiencing serious instability within its government due to the crisis caused by the Algerian War. To remedy this, Parliament demanded the return of General de Gaulle to power as President of the Council. He accepted on the condition of obtaining full powers for six months and being able to modify the Constitution. The National Assembly gave it a mandate on June 3, 1958 while establishing certain principles of revision.

The new Constitution, desired by de Gaulle and drawn up by Michel Debré, then Keeper of the Seals, was submitted to a referendum with the French people on September 28. Adopted by nearly 83% of the votes, the Constitution was promulgated on October 4, 1958. Inspired by the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen of 1789, the Constitution of 1958, still in force today, specifies in particular the attributions of the government , the responsibilities of the president as head of the armies, the principle of democracy, the establishment of a strong executive power, the maintenance of the parliamentary regime... Fifty years later, the constitutional text, reworked and modified by several revisions in order to be adapted to its environment, established stability of powers and political action while preserving the achievements of democracy.