Pozycja ustrojowa rządu w V Republice w świetle reformy konstytucyjnej z 2008 r.
Cabinet position under the Fifth Republic after the 2008 Constitutional revision

Summary/Abstract: This article examines the change of Cabinet position under the Fifth Republic. In particular, it looks at intra-executive relations as well as at Cabinet relations with parliament. The political system created by the 1958 Constitution has been called semi-presidential (term coined by M. Duverger). The Fifth Republic aimed at founding the “rationalized” parliamentarism and re-establishing executive authority as a means of improving cabinet stability and legislative capacity. O ne of the consequences was the weakened position of the parliament. The government in a semi-presidential system is said to be subject to “dual responsibility” it has to be supported or accepted by parliament, as in parliamentary systems, but also, not formally but in the practice, by the president. The autonomy of the government with regard to the presidency varies over time. Especially this depends on divided executive called “cohabitation”. Cohabitation practice took nine years out of 50 years of history. It shows that cohabitation practice is more exception than the rule. In this context the very significant was the constitutional amendment of 2000, which reduced the presidential mandate, in order to limit the danger of cohabitation. The strengthening of the role of the president in the French political system reflect the general tendency towards stronger executive dominance, called “presidentialisation”. Some scholars argue that the French political system is evolved in to “ultra-presidentialist”, during the periods when presidential and legislative majorities coincide. In the fact current situation under President N. Sarkozy shows progress of presidentialisation. Actually, the 2008 Constitutional revision aimed at revalorization of the parliament and “democratization of the institutions” has not changed this tendency

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