This is a list of Presidents of France. The first President of France is considered to be Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte (later Napoleon III), who was elected in the 1848 election, under the French Second Republic. The current President is Francois Hollande, from 15 May 2012. He was elected in the 2012 election.
The National Convention (20 September 1792 – 26 October 1795) was led by a President (see List of Presidents of the National Convention); the Presidency rotated fortnightly.
From 1793 the National Convention was dominated by its sub-committee, Committee of Public Safety, in which the leading figures were Georges Danton and then Maximilien Robespierre.
The Directory was officially led by a president, as stipulated by Article 141 of the Constitution of the Year III. An entirely ceremonial post, the first president was Rewbell who was chosen by lot on 2 November 1795. The directors conducted their elections privately, with the presidency rotating every three months. The last president was Gohier.
The leading figure of the Directory was Paul Barras, the only Director to serve throughout the Directory.
Provisional Consuls (10 November – 12 December 1799):
Consuls (12 December 1799 – 18 May 1804):
Napoléon Bonaparte proclaimed himself Emperor of the French in 1804, reigning as Emperor Napoleon I 1804–1814 (First French Empire) and 1815 (Hundred Days).
The French monarchy was restored 1814–1815 and 1815–1830 (Bourbon Restoration), and 1830–1848 (July Monarchy).