II‑  Industrial Relations Environments in France
•The Political context
•Fifth Republic‑
–Constitution since 1958
–Preceded by two other Republics dating from 1870s
•Government
–Broad Presidential Powers - esp. defense and foreign policy
–2 chamber Parliament
Political Context
   Population ~ 64 mil.
   3 times as dense as USA, only Canada and Sweden in the course less densely populated
   85% Catholic  with Muslim’s the second largest group

President
   Broad Presidential Powers - esp. defense and foreign policy
   President since 1995 Jacques Chirac, Conservative
   Re-elected 2002
   1981-95 Francois Mitterand, Socialist

2 chamber Parliament
   Prime Minister and Cabinet responsible to National Assembly
   Dominique de Villepin is Prime Minister