Have French presidents become shorter?

France is in the middle of the presidential elections which will take place over two rounds in April and May. The current president Nicolas Sarkozy is being challenged by the socialist François Hollande. 

In an article in today's The Independent there was a remark about the hight of the two men, who are both short. link Over the last couple of years Nicolas Sarkozy has been the object of many jokes due to his feable hight, but it made me wonder if French presidents have become shorter?

 Sarkozy

I decided to look up the presidents of the 5th Republic, which started in 1959.  After some research on the internet I found a blog about people's hight (oh, yes, it does exist!): link

Charles de Gaulle was president from 1959 to 1969, he was born in 1890 and measured 193 cms.

Georges Pompidou was president from 1969 to 1974, he was born in 1911 and measured 173 cms.

 De Gaulle and Pompidou

Valéry Giscard d'Estaing was president from 1974 to 1981, he was born in 1926 and measures 190 cms.

François Mitterand was president from 1981 to 1995, he was born in 1916 and measured 173 cms.

Jacques Chirac was president from 1995 to 2007, he was born in 1932 and measures 190 cms

Nicolas Sarkozy has been president since 2007, he was born in 1955 and measures according to some 165 cms according to others 168 cms.

 Sarkozy and Chirac

The next president, if one is to believe the opinion polls, will be François Hollande, who is believed to measure about 172 - 174 cms. However, looking at the past the next president should be tall, but are there any tall candidates? François Bayrou measures about 175 cms and Marine Le Pen 174 cms. There are quite frankly no tall candidates out there! Arnaud Montebourg has got the hight (190 cms), but has not made it to the candidate list. Perhaps in 5 years? My conclusion can only be that the next president will be elected by default, and that France will have to wait another 5 years to elect a popular and long-lasting president.