French presidential election, 1958

The French presidential election of 1958, the first of the French Fifth Republic, took place on 21 December 1958. This was the only French presidential election by the electoral college (gathering the members of the French Parliament, the Conseils Généraux, the overseas assemblies, and tens of thousands of mayors, deputy mayors and city council members). To win, a candidate needed to have 50% of the votes cast in his favour. This system was used only for this election, and was changed in the 1962 referendum in time for the 1965 presidential election.