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
1996 President of the Senate of the Czech Republic election Pithart needed 41 votes to be elected, but received only 39 votes in the first round. This triggered a debate over whether a second round should be held in the case of only one candidate, and it was decided to hold the second round. Pithart was narrowly elected with 41 votes. Pithart became the first President of the senate. He stayed in the position until 1998 when he was replaced by Libuše Benešová. 1996 President of the Senate of the Czech Republic election An election of the President of the Senate of the Czech Republic was held on 18 December