France
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- semi-presidential republic
- CONSTITUTION
- October 4, 1958; amended several times, last in 2008
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- based on civil law; administrative acts can be reviewed but not legislative ones; has not submitted to the jurisdiction of the ICJ
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- Bicameral Parliament (Parlement), Senate (Senat) and National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (composed of the president of the court, 6 division presidents, 120 merit judges, and 70 substitute judges organized into 6 divisions: 3 civil, 1 commercial, 1 labor, and 1 criminal); Constitutional Council (composed of 9 members); Courts of Appeal or Cour d'Appel; Regional Courts or Tribunal de Grande Instance; First Instance Courts or Tribunal d'instance; Administrative Courts
RELIGIONS
Roman Catholic 47%, Muslim 4%, Protestant 2%, Buddhist 2%, Orthodox 1%, Jewish 1%, Other 1%, None 33%, Not specified 9% (estimate 2021)
From the country
APRIL 7, 2026FranceDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Cécile Kohler and Jacques Paris Leave Iran for France
- FEBRUARY 3, 2026FranceDEATH PENALTY
MALAYSIAN COURT ACQUITS FRENCH MAN FACING POSSIBLE DEATH PENALTY ON DRUG CHARGES
A French national facing a possible death penalty in Malaysia on eight drug-related charges was acquitted on February 3, 2026, freeing him after nearly two and a half years in detention.
- JULY 30, 2025FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRANCE: SERGE ATLAOUI RELEASED AFTER YEARS ON INDONESIA DEATH ROW
A Frenchman who spent almost two decades on death row in Indonesia over drug offences before being returned to France left prison on July 18, 2025 after being granted a conditional release.
- FEBRUARY 13, 2025FranceDEATH PENALTY
REPATRIATED FRENCHMAN'S INDONESIA DEATH SENTENCE COMMUTED TO 30 YEARS IN PRISON
A Frenchman reprieved after 18 years on death row in Indonesia on drug offenses will have to serve 30 years in jail after being repatriated last week, a French court ruled February 12, 2025.
- FEBRUARY 6, 2025FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRENCHMAN ATLAOUI RETURNS TO PARIS AFTER REPRIEVE FROM DEATH ROW IN INDONESIA
A Frenchman reprieved after 18 years on death row in Indonesia for alleged drug offences landed back in France on February 5, 2025, an airport source said.
JANUARY 14, 2025FranceDEATH PENALTYIRAN - French Citizen Olivier Grondeau Imprisoned in Iran
3rd Frenche citized deteined in Iran on vague charges
- DECEMBER 4, 2024FranceDEATH PENALTY
FRANCE REQUESTS TRANSFER OF DEATH ROW CONVICT HELD IN INDONESIA
France has asked Indonesia to transfer a French death row convict, who has been jailed for drug crimes in the country since 2005, a senior minister told AFP on November 29, 2024.
- FEBRUARY 11, 2024FranceDEATH PENALTY
ROBERT BADINTER, WHO ABOLISHED DEATH PENALTY IN FRANCE, DIES AT 95
Former French justice minister Robert Badinter, who abolished capital punishment in France in 1981, has died at the age of 95, one of his aides told local media on February 9, 2024.
JULY 9, 2022BelgiumDEATH PENALTYIRAN - Belgium. What Lessons Can Belgium Learn That France Never Did?
More on the Assadi case
MAY 16, 2020FranceDEATH PENALTYIRAN - French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah sentenced to six years in prison
IRAN - French-Iranian academic Fariba Adelkhah sentenced to six years in prison
FEBRUARY 10, 2020FranceDEATH PENALTYIRAQ: FRENCH JIHADISTS APPEAL TO UN TO AVOID DEATH PENALTY
Five French jihadists sentenced to death in Iraq have appealed to the UN to pressure France to bring them home, their lawyer has said, adding they were suffering inhumane treatment.
- JANUARY 1, 2020FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9...