French Fifth Republic of the election on 9 January 1959. The new president began his office on that date, appointing Michel Debré as Prime Minister. The 1958 constitution also replaced the French Union with the French Community, which allowed fourteen member territories (these did not include Algeria) to assert their independence. 1960 became known as the "Year of Africa" because of this wave of newly independent states. Algeria became independent on 5 July 1962. The president was initially elected by an electoral college, but in 1962 de Gaulle proposed that the president be directly elected by the citizens, and held a referendum on
2004 President of the Senate of the Czech Republic election 2004 President of the Senate of the Czech Republic election Election of the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic was held on 15 December 2004. Přemysl Sobotka defeated Josef Jařab and became the new President of the Senate. The incumbent President Petr Pithart didn't run. After 2004 Senate election the Civic Democratic Party became the largest Senate party. It had 35 seats of 81. Petr Pithart who was a member of Christian and Democratic Union – Czechoslovak People's Party decided to not seek reelection. Civic Democrats nominated Přemysl Sobotka. Caucus for Open Democracyk decided to nominate Josef Jařab