Match Le Président Trivia Quiz

Answer: Nicolas Sarkozy

Sarkozy was of Hungarian descent, and qualified as a lawyer. He took an interest in politics at a young age, becoming a city councillor when he was only twenty-three and later taking office as the Mayor of Neuilly-sur-Seine, near Paris.

Sarkozy became President of the fifth Republic of France, which dates from 1958, in 2007. He married Carla Bruni, his third wife, in 2008 during his Presidency.

(Question by Rockette: rossian)

Answer: Paul Deschanel

Paul Deschanel was French President from 18 February, 1920, to 21 September, 1920. He stood for the Democratic Republican Alliance. During his brief period in office, his behaviour caused concern due to his mental health. On one occasion, he was given a bouquet of flowers by a group of schoolgirls but he threw it back at them. He was succeeded by Alexandre Millerand.

(Question by Rockette: Plodd)

Answer: Georges Pompidou

Georges Pompidou was elected President of France in 1969 after serving for six years as French Prime Minister. Pompidou was noted for both his successful foreign policy - particularly improving the country's relationship with the United States - and his interest in affairs closer to home, such as building a new centre to house a large public library, a centre for musical study and a modern art museum. Originally named the Centre Beaubourg, it was renamed the Centre Pompidou after his death in 1974.

(Question by Rockette: Fifiona81)

Answer: Charles de Gaulle

One of the best known French presidents, de Gaulle was a figurehead during the Second World War, having escaped from German-occupied France in June 1940. After the war, he returned to his home country, becoming President in 1959. He resigned in 1969 and died a year later, just before his eightieth birthday.

(Question by Rockette: rossian)

Answer: Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte

Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, who was the nephew of Napoleon I, belonged to the Bonapartist political party. He became the first President of France from 1848 to 1852 and then Emperor of France from 1852 to 1870. His downfall came when the French army was defeated under the Prussian rule of Otto Von Bismarck.

(Question by Rockette: Plodd)

Answer: Raymond Poincaré

Given that he was French President from 1913-1920, a period that included the First World War, Poincaré is not as well-known in history as might be expected. French politics at the end of the war was dominated by the Prime Minister, Georges Clemenceau - who attended the negotiations for the Treaty of Versailles and ultimately determined the French position. Poincaré's most noted contribution was a request to place the German Rhineland under Allied military control, but this was effectively ignored by Clemenceau.

(Question by Rockette: Fifiona81)

Answer: Francois Mitterand

Mitterand took office as President in 1981 and remained in position until 1995. One of his first moves was to involve members of the Communist Party in his government, which caused great consternation. The move worked in Mitterand's favour, as it eroded the Communist Party's support and strengthened his own position as leader of the left. He died from cancer in January 1996, only a few months after retiring.

(Question by Rockette: rossian)

Answer: Francois Hollande

Francois Hollande was a member of the Socialist Party and came into power in 2012. Born in 1954, Hollande nicknamed himself 'Mr Normal'. Some measures he introduced while in office included legalising same-sex marriage and the withdrawal of French troops from the war in Afghanistan. He led the country through two major terrorist attacks in Paris during 2015 that led to 157 deaths.

(Question by Rockette: Plodd)

Answer: Valéry Giscard d'Estaing

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing was one of the youngest French presidents in history when he was elected to the office in 1974 at the age of 48. His modernising domestic policy was not limited to technological infrastructure (although he was a strong promoter of nuclear energy), but also covered a wide range of liberal reforms such as the abolition of the death penalty and the legalisation of abortion. He was defeated by François Mitterrand in 1981 but continued in politics, particularly as a member of the European Parliament.

(Question by Rockette: Fifiona81)

Answer: Jules Grévy

Grévy was the 4th President of France, elected in 1879. He was a staunch republican, in contrast to his direct predecessors who were quite keen on restoring the French monarchy. However, his presidency came to an ignominious end in 1887 when he was forced to resign following a scandal involving his son-in-law and the illegal sale of Légion d'honneur awards. His name was later given to the Grévy's zebra, which was first discovered by a French naturalist during Grévy's term in office.

(Question by Rockette: Fifiona81)