Parliamentary Accountability: Comparing India’s and France’s Systems

Syllabus: Indian Constitutional Scheme – A Comparison with Other Countries (UPSC GS II)
Source: DH

Context:

France is facing a major political crisis as Prime Minister François Bayrou is likely to lose a vote of confidence, triggered by unpopular austerity measures. This situation brings into focus how votes of confidence work in India’s parliamentary system and France’s semi-presidential system.

France’s Semi-Presidential System (Fifth Republic)

What is it?

• Introduced by the 1958 Constitution to end political instability.
• Combines presidential and parliamentary elements, creating a dual executive — a directly elected President and a Prime Minister accountable to Parliament.

Key Features

Dual Executive:

• President (Head of State): Directly elected for 5 years; strong in foreign affairs, defence, and emergencies.
• Prime Minister (Head of Government): Appointed by the President but must have Parliament’s confidence; handles domestic affairs.

Powers of the President:

• Appoints the PM and presides over the Council of Ministers.
• Can dissolve the National Assembly and call elections.
• Emergency powers under Article 16.

Powers of the Prime Minister:

• Directs governance and day-to-day administration.
• Accountable to the National Assembly; can be removed via a motion of censure.
• Can pass bills using Article 49-3, unless opposed by Parliament.

Parliament:

• Bicameral: National Assembly (directly elected) and Senate (indirectly elected).
• Assembly has final say in law-making and can remove the government.
• Procedures ensure stability and reduce deadlocks.

Cohabitation:

• Occurs when the President and Assembly majority are from opposing parties.
• President leads foreign policy; PM handles domestic governance.

Reforms:

• 2000: Presidential term reduced to 5 years to align with Assembly elections.
• 2008: Parliament’s powers strengthened; limits on Article 49-3.

Why “Semi-Presidential”?

• Not fully presidential (like the U.S.) because the government is answerable to Parliament.
• Not purely parliamentary (like the U.K.) because the President holds direct powers.
• A mix of both systems balancing leadership and accountability.

Vote of Confidence: India vs France

India (Parliamentary System):

• Entire Council of Ministers faces confidence.
• Opposition can introduce a No-Confidence Motion under Rule 198.
• Based on Article 75(3) — collective responsibility to the Lok Sabha.
• Simple majority of members present is enough.
• If defeated, the government resigns; the President may invite another leader or dissolve the Lok Sabha.

France (Semi-Presidential System):

• Only the Prime Minister and Cabinet face confidence, not the President.
• Article 49(2) allows the National Assembly to pass a Motion of Censure requiring an absolute majority.
• The PM can also use Articles 49-1 and 49-3 to tie a bill’s passage to a confidence vote.
• If defeated, only the PM and Cabinet resign; the President remains in office.

Key Differences

Conclusion

India’s vote of confidence reflects parliamentary supremacy, where the entire government is accountable to elected representatives. France’s system shows a dual executive, where the Prime Minister is answerable to Parliament but the President retains independent authority. These differences highlight how constitutional design shapes governance and accountability in both countries.