Politics & Government
Executive–Legislative Relations under Cohabitation in Semi-Presidential Systems
Quick fact
In the French Fifth Republic, cohabitation occurred three times (1986–88, 1993–95, 1997–2002) because the president's party lost the parliamentary majority, forcing the president to appoint a prime minister from the opposition. During these periods, the president’s domestic policy power was largely ceded to the prime minister, who commanded the legislative majority.
Why this is interesting
What happens when a president and a prime minister are from opposing parties? In some countries, they must govern together—a situation called cohabitation—and the result is a power struggle that reshapes the entire executive branch.