French Fourth Republic Charles de Gaulle returned from retirement to preside over a transitional administration that was empowered to design a new French constitution. The Fourth Republic was dissolved by a public referendum on 5 October 1958 which established the modern-day Fifth Republic with a strengthened presidency. After the liberation of France in 1944, the Vichy government was dissolved and the Provisional Government of the French Republic () was instituted. With most of the political class discredited and containing many members who had more or less collaborated with Nazi Germany, Gaullism and communism became the most popular political forces in France. Charles deGaulle
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