The president of France, officially the president of the French Republic, is the executive head of state of France, and the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency is the supreme magistracy of the country, the position is the highest office in France. The powers, functions and duties of prior presidential offices, in addition to their relation with the prime minister and government of France, have over time differed with the various constitutional documents since the Second Republic.
President of France
Alain Poher, Acting President of France in 1969 and 1974
The Élysée Palace, the principal residence of the president
The French Armed Forces are the military forces of France. They consist of four military branches – the Army, the Navy, the Air and Space Force and the National Gendarmerie. The National Guard serves as the French Armed Forces' military reserve force. As stipulated by France's constitution, the president of France serves as commander-in-chief of the French military. France has the eighth largest defence budget in the world and the second largest in the European Union (EU). It also has the largest military by size in the EU. A 2015 Credit Suisse report ranked the French Armed Forces as the world's sixth most powerful military.
Free French Legionnaires at the Battle of Bir Hakeim (1942)
A Dassault Rafale refuels from a USAF KC-10 Extender
Hexagone Balard, the headquarters of the French Armed Forces
A Leclerc tank during manoeuvres