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At the end of his or her term, can the President decide to stay in power?
Model-written, not yet read by a native reader.
Correct answer: No, citizens must elect him or her again. No, the President cannot decide alone to stay. He or she is elected for 5 years by French citizens. To continue, he or she must be elected again. Source: the Ministry of the Interior sheet “La démocratie et la République (2/2)” (in French).
Sources: Sheet “La démocratie et la République (2/2)” (French), read on 21 October 2026. Answer written by Hexaciv from this source. Hexaciv is an independent preparation tool. It is not an official website, is not linked to any government body and does not give legal advice. The authoritative source is the Ministry of the Interior's, cited on this page.
The four choices and why
- ✗ Yes, if he or she decides aloneOui, s'il le décide seulHe or she is elected for 5 years, not for life.
- ✓ No, citizens must elect him or her againNon, les citoyens doivent l'élire de nouveauCorrect answer. No, the President cannot decide alone to stay. He or she is elected for 5 years by French citizens. To continue, he or she must be elected again.
- ✗ Yes, if the Prime Minister agreesOui, si le Premier ministre est d'accordThe Prime Minister cannot extend the term.
- ✗ Yes, if the judges ask for itOui, si les juges le demandentJudges do not decide the length of the term.
What the source says
« Le président de la République, élu pour 5 ans au suffrage universel directement par les citoyens français. »
Sentence copied word for word from the source, in French, read on 21 October 2026.
How it reads on exam day
The exam is in French, so this is the question you will see: « À la fin de son mandat, le président peut-il décider de rester au pouvoir ? ». Learn the English idea above and the French words in the options.
This question is on the official list for the resident card (CR). The Ministry's wording: “À la fin de son mandat, le président de la République peut-il décider de rester au pouvoir ?”.
Where the Ministry explains it
Sheet “La démocratie et la République (2/2)” (French).
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