France (Solar Years)

The French Empire, also referred to as Imperial France or Bonapartist to differentiate it from The Republic of France (Republican France), The French State (Directoral France), and The Kingdom of France (Royal/Orléanist France), is one of the biggest and most influential members of the European Union, rivaled only by Germany. Founded after chaos and civil war, the French Empire is a major player in Mobile Suit Gundam: Battle of the Planets.

Formation
The French Empire was declared in SY 5 after the end of the French Civil War, in which Colonel Charles-Napoleon Bonaparte drove out the Republican, Directorial, and Orléanist factions. At least half of Franc's population expected him to restore the Empire. The newly coronated Napoleon IV managed to surpise his critics, however, by wrting a new constitution which restored the parliament and reduced himself to a near-total figurehead. Peace was restored, the EU was born, and Napoleon himself would reign until SY 51, being suceeded by his son, Victor-Napoleon, henceforth Napoleon V. France would eventually reconcile with its Republican and Royal brethren, though Directoral realtions remain cold to this day.

Mobile Suits
France was one of the biggest particpants in the European Union's Mobile Weapon initiative, being the primary developers and funders of the Tallgeese, a powerful, but hazardous, Mobile Suit prototype. This would later be redesigned by German engineers into the Leo, the First mass-production Mobile Suit created on Earth, and a mainstay of the European Military.

Goverment and Politics
The Emperor of the French is almost entirely a figure head, with his only powers being to call parliament meetings and emergency appointments and forced retirements. The Head of Government is the Prime Minister, who's in charge of the parliament. The parliament is similiar to the other French Parliaments, up to the names of the branches, The Senate and the National Assembly. The Imperial Court of Cassation is the Supreme Court of France.