On 1958-05-13, a political and military uprising in Algiers escalated the Fourth Republic’s instability during the Algerian War. The crisis raised fears of a breakdown of civilian authority and pushed French leaders to seek a new government able to restore control.
On 1958-06-01, the National Assembly approved Charles de Gaulle to form a government as prime minister. Parliament also gave him special powers during the emergency, setting the stage for rewriting France’s constitutional rules.
On 1958-06-03, a constitutional law created an exceptional procedure allowing de Gaulle’s government to draft a new constitution and submit it directly to a referendum. This bypassed the slower revision process of the 1946 constitution and accelerated the shift to new institutions.
Beginning on 1958-06-04, de Gaulle set up a working group to prepare a constitutional text, later reviewed by a consultative committee. The central goal was to reduce chronic government turnover by strengthening the executive branch while keeping parliamentary democracy.
On 1958-09-28, French voters approved the proposed constitution in a nationwide referendum. The “yes” victory gave democratic legitimacy to the new framework and cleared the way for the Fifth Republic to replace the Fourth Republic.
On 1958-10-04, the Constitution of the Fifth Republic was formally promulgated. It created a political system with a stronger presidency and tools like referendums and emergency powers intended to stabilize decision-making.
On 1958-11-23 (first round) and 1958-11-30 (second round), France elected a new National Assembly under the new constitutional order. The results strengthened the governing camp and helped de Gaulle implement the Fifth Republic’s institutions.
On 1958-12-21, Charles de Gaulle was elected president under the Fifth Republic’s original rules, by a large electoral college rather than a direct popular vote. This completed the initial institutional transition from the Fourth Republic to the Fifth.
On 1962-03-18, the French government and Algeria’s provisional government signed the Évian Accords. The agreement led to a cease-fire (effective the next day) and set the path toward Algerian independence, resolving the war that had helped bring down the Fourth Republic.
On 1962-08-22, members of the OAS (a violent group opposed to Algerian independence) attacked de Gaulle’s motorcade in Petit-Clamart. He survived, and the event reinforced how Algeria-related conflict continued to shape French politics even after negotiations.
On 1962-10-28, voters approved electing the president by universal suffrage (direct popular vote). This reform increased the presidency’s democratic mandate and further shifted power toward the executive within the Fifth Republic.
On 1962-11-18 and 1962-11-25, France held legislative elections soon after the referendum fight over direct presidential elections. The vote returned a workable governing majority and showed how constitutional disputes could now lead quickly to fresh elections under the Fifth Republic.
On 1963-01-22, France and West Germany signed the Élysée Treaty to organize regular cooperation, especially in foreign policy, defense, and youth exchanges. The treaty reflected de Gaulle’s aim to anchor France’s position in Europe through a strong bilateral partnership.
On 1965-12-19, after a two-round election, de Gaulle won re-election against François Mitterrand. It was the first time the Fifth Republic chose its president by direct vote, testing—and confirming—the new rules adopted in 1962.
On 1966-03-10, de Gaulle formally announced France’s intention to leave NATO’s integrated military structure. The decision fit his broader policy of national independence in defense, while France remained a political member of the alliance.
On 1967-03-05 and 1967-03-12, legislative elections produced a tighter National Assembly than before. Even though the governing camp remained strong, the reduced margin suggested growing political competition under the Fifth Republic.
On 1967-07-24, de Gaulle ended a public speech in Montreal with a phrase supporting “free Quebec,” provoking an immediate diplomatic backlash from Canada. The incident highlighted his activist foreign policy style and his willingness to challenge allies publicly.
In May 1968, student protests expanded into a massive general strike involving millions of workers, paralyzing much of the country. The crisis exposed deep social tensions and raised urgent questions about how the Fifth Republic handled dissent and negotiation.
On 1968-06-23 and 1968-06-30, early legislative elections followed the May crisis and de Gaulle’s decision to dissolve the National Assembly. The governing Gaullists won a large majority, restoring short-term political stability after weeks of unrest.
On 1969-04-27, voters rejected de Gaulle’s proposed constitutional reforms in a referendum. He resigned the next day, ending the founding presidency of the Fifth Republic and opening the way for a new political phase under his successors.
Founding of the Fifth Republic and de Gaulle's Presidency (1958–1969)