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
- MARCH 21, 2005FranceDEATH PENALTY
USA. GOVERNMENT URGES JUDGE TO SET DATE FOR MOUSSAOUI TRIAL
the US government asked a federal judge to set an October start date for the much-delayed trial of accused September 11 conspirator Zacarias Moussaoui.
- FEBRUARY 6, 2005FranceDEATH PENALTY
the Paris Prefecture has cancelled permits for a demonstration for democracy
the Paris Prefecture has cancelled permits for a demonstration for democracy
- FEBRUARY 4, 2005FranceDEATH PENALTY
Amnesty International asked Uganda to drop the death penalty.
Amnesty International asked Uganda to drop the death penalty.
- JANUARY 1, 2005FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9, 1981, mainly through the efforts of then Socialist Justice Minister, Robert Badinter.
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9, 1981, mainly through the efforts of then Socialist Justice Minister, Robert Badinter.
- NOVEMBER 27, 2004BulgariaDEATH PENALTY
French President Jacques Chirac spoke out on behalf of...
French President Jacques Chirac spoke out on behalf of...
- NOVEMBER 27, 2004FranceDEATH PENALTY
French Communist Party leader Marie-George Buffet called for the release of Tibetan monk
French Communist Party leader Marie-George Buffet called for the release of Tibetan monk
- JULY 1, 2004FranceDEATH PENALTY
Baghdad's decision to re-establish the death penalty...
Baghdad's decision to re-establish the death penalty ahead of the war crimes trial of Saddam Hussein evoked a mixed reaction in Europe, recalling the split across the continent over the war that toppled the Iraqi leader
- JUNE 30, 2004FranceDEATH PENALTY
France reiterated its opposition to death penalty "under...
France reiterated its opposition to death penalty "under any circumstances" and called for the trial for Iraqi former president Saddam Hussein to be in compliance with the international law
- MAY 3, 2004FranceDEATH PENALTY
On April 8, a bill was very discreetly proposed for...
On April 8, a bill was very discreetly proposed for the reintroduction of the death penalty for those guilty of committing "terrorist acts"
- APRIL 21, 2004FranceDEATH PENALTY
France was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution...
France was a cosponsor and voted in favour of the resolution on the death penalty at the 60th UN Commission on Human Rights
- APRIL 9, 2004FranceDEATH PENALTY
Assured that accused murderer Paul Eduardovich Goldman...
Assured that accused murderer Paul Eduardovich Goldman would not face the death penalty in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, a French court agreed to extradite him to the United States
- APRIL 7, 2004FranceDEATH PENALTY
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9, 1981, mainly through the efforts of then Socialist Justice Minister, Robert Badinter.
The death penalty was abolished in France on September 9, 1981, mainly through the efforts of then Socialist Justice Minister, Robert Badinter.