Halbpräsidentielle

Halbpräsidentielle, in German political science, denotes a semi-presidential form of government in which a president exists alongside a prime minister and a cabinet, sharing executive power. The term emphasizes a division of executive authority between a directly elected president and a government that is responsible to the parliament. The exact balance of power is defined by the constitution and shaped by political practice.

Typical features include a directly elected president who may hold substantial powers in foreign policy, defense, and certain ceremonial duties, and a prime minister who heads the daily administration and is responsible to the legislature. The cabinet is generally collectively responsible to the parliament, ensuring a link between the executive and legislative branches. In some systems the president can appoint or dismiss the prime minister and may have the authority to dissolve parliament, but such actions are usually constrained by constitutional provisions and political norms.

A hallmark of the Halbpräsidentielle model is the potential for cohabitation, when the president and the parliamentary majority belong to different political camps. This scenario often requires power-sharing arrangements and can shape policy outcomes in both domestic and foreign affairs.

The model is most associated with France’s Fifth Republic, where a directly elected president coexists with a prime minister who is responsible to the National Assembly. It has been adopted or adapted by several other countries, including Portugal, Romania, Finland, Lithuania, and Moldova, with varying degrees of presidential influence and parliamentary control. In practice, constitutional design and political practice determine whether the system operates as a balanced semi-presidential arrangement or leans toward more presidential or more parliamentary dynamics.