The president : a new king or a real elected man ?

How to consider the president regarding his behaviour and his way to govern the country ?

We will only talk about two presidents of the Ve Republic : C. De Gaulle the first one and, N. Sarkozy, the current one. In fact, both of them are generally caracterized by the most ambitious and charismatic leaders.

I) Real elected men.

1) Charles De Gaulle.

Charles De Gaulle (1890-1970) was a brigadier general and a statesman who led the Free French Forces during World War II. He later founded the French Fifth Republic in 1958 and served as its first President from 1959 to 1969.

How he came to power, the historic context :

a. 1st mandate : 1958-1965 as Council president.
In 1958, at the moment where Algeria reclaims its independence (official term : Pacification but this was a real war) De Gaulle, symbole of victory, intervenes to try to calm the ostilities and find an arrangement. On May, he becomes president of the Council and is elected president on december.
He was the first president of the 5th republic and founded the current constitution.

b. 2nd mandate : 1965-1969 reelected as republic president but in 1969 he retired.

- 1961 : FLN ( attempts to murder De Gaulle by an attack & does others attack in France. It convinces De Gaulle & the public view that it has to be stopped.
- Spring 1962 : négociations in Evian & independence’s proclamation of Algeria, by referendum ( 90% in favour of the independence ).
Everybody likes him and he is sure to be reelected.
- 1965 : 1st election by direct universal suffrage.

The election. (1965)
He was elected at the second round :
1. Charles De Gaulle : 54.5%
2. François Mitterand : 45.5%.

2) Nicolas Sarkozy.

Nicolas Sarkozy (born in 1955), is the 23rd and current president of the French Republic. He assumed the office on May 16th 2007 after défeating the Socialist Party candidate, Segolene Royal 10 days earlier. Before his présidence,