Power and Privilege of French Presidents

Being the President of France comes with a wild lifetime perk. Once they leave

office, former presidents automatically become life members of the Constitutional

Council, the country's highest court. The current president's power is also immense—they're

the Commander-in-Chief, can dissolve Parliament, and can even trigger emergency powers if the nation is

under threat. But it's not all-powerful. The constitution also guarantees that France is a

democratic and social Republic, ensuring equality for all citizens and even protecting

the right to a healthy environment. It’s a wild mix of concentrated power and protected

freedoms.