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
- NOVEMBER 5, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
Harlem Desir, French member of the European Parliament's...
Harlem Desir, French member of the European Parliament's Socialist Group, expressed concern that envisaging the extradition of Mr Akhmed Zakaiev, who was arrested at Russia's request when representing the Chechen President Mashkadov at the World Congress
- SEPTEMBER 12, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
Former Central African President Andre Kolingba, sentenced...
Former Central African President Andre Kolingba, sentenced to death [on August 26] for leading a coup against the country's president, has relocated from Kampala to Paris, France
- AUGUST 5, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
France hailed the ground-breaking reforms adopted by...
France hailed the ground-breaking reforms adopted by Turkey's parliament on August 3, including the abolition of the death penalty
- AUGUST 5, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
France hailed the ground-breaking reforms adopted by...
France hailed the ground-breaking reforms adopted by Turkey's parliament on August 3, including the abolition of the death penalty
- JUNE 5, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
An alleged anti-abortion killer was deported from France...
An alleged anti-abortion killer was deported from France to the US to face trial for murder
- MAY 3, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
France signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention...
France signed Protocol 13 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which ensures the abolition of the death penalty in all circumstances
- APRIL 25, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
France was a cosponsor and voted for the resolution...
France was a cosponsor and voted for the resolution 2002/77 on the death penalty at the 58th UN Commission on Human Rights
- APRIL 21, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
France is in a state of shock and anger after the election...
France is in a state of shock and anger after the election success of the extreme Right under Jean-Marie Le Pen
- APRIL 16, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
The French ambassador to Uganda, Jean-Bernard Thiant,...
The French ambassador to Uganda, Jean-Bernard Thiant, said the French government wants Uganda to abolish the death penalty
- MARCH 28, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
U.S. prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty...
U.S. prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty for Zacarias Moussaoui, accusing the French citizen of actions that resulted in some 3,000 deaths from the Sept
- MARCH 28, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
U.S. prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty...
U.S. prosecutors said they would seek the death penalty for Zacarias Moussaoui, accusing the French citizen of actions that resulted in some 3,000 deaths from the Sept
- MARCH 19, 2002FranceDEATH PENALTY
US prosecutors will seek the death penalty for jailed...
US prosecutors will seek the death penalty for jailed Frenchman Zacarias Moussaoui, the indicted "20th hijacker" in the September 11 attacks, The New York Times disclosed