President of France Vincent Auriol and ex-emperor of Annam Bảo Đại sign the Élysée Accords, giving Vietnam greater independence from France and creating the State of Vietnam to oppose Viet Minh-led Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
The Elyse Accords were an agreement signed at the lyse Palace on March 9, 1949 by ex-emperor Bo i which gave the State of Vietnam greater independence from France within the French Union. The Accords received final ratification by the French National Assembly on January 29, 1950 and were signed by President Vincent Auriol on February 2. The agreement was intended to increase U.S. support for France's actions in Indochina as well as to convince Bo i that France would give Vietnam greater independence. The accords stated that Vietnam could conduct its own foreign affairs, control its finances and have an army; although, the agreements fell short of granting complete independence. The agreements led to the U.S. moving from a position of neutrality to supporting Bo i. The French portrayed their actions in Indochina as fighting the communism of H Ch Minh while attempting to regain control of their colonies after World War II.
The president of France, officially the President of the French Republic (French: Président de la République française), is the head of state of France, head of the executive, as well as the commander-in-chief of the French Armed Forces. As the presidency is the supreme magistracy of the country, the officeholder is the holder of the highest office in France. The powers, functions and duties of prior presidential offices, in addition to their relation with the prime minister and Government of France, have over time differed with the various constitutional documents since the Second Republic. The president of the French Republic is the ex officio co-prince of Andorra, grand master of the Legion of Honour and of the National Order of Merit. The officeholder is also honorary proto-canon of the Archbasilica of Saint John Lateran in Rome, although some have rejected the title in the past. The current president of the French Republic is Emmanuel Macron, who succeeded François Hollande on 14 May 2017.