5. SO WHO RUNS THE COUNTRY?

There is a balance of powers at the top of the French state. The president has executive power but can’t govern the nation without the support of the prime minister and the cabinet, who are needed to pass legislation and approve spending. While the prime minister and his cabinet can override parliament in some situations, as then-Prime Minister Manuel Valls did last year on labor reform, the president can’t do that alone.

to run, ran, run ici, diriger / balance équilibre, compromis / support soutien / to pass ici, voter, adopter / spending dépenses, budget / to override, overrode, overridden passer outre, l'emporter sur / then- ici, de l'époque / labor (US)= labour (GB) (du) travail.