The political crisis triggered by the results of the European and parliamentary elections is in danger of rapidly descending into chaos. The French are incensed by the irresponsible behavior of the President of the Republic.
Following a series of consultations with representatives of political parties and parliamentary groups, the Élysée Palace issued a press release on Monday August 26 that set off a firestorm. The President of the Republic ruled out the possibility of a government with the New Popular Front. A government based solely on the program and parties proposed by the alliance with the most deputies, the New Popular Front, would immediately be censured by all the other groups represented in the National Assembly,” the statement said. Our country’s institutional stability dictates that this option should not be pursued.
The Head of State is planning new consultations, starting this Tuesday, to try to resolve the political imbroglio that has been going on since the Attal government resigned on July 16.
“An impeachment motion”
As expected, the left-wing parties and especially the NFP were immediately up in arms, referring to “an unacceptable anti-democratic coup de force.” The leader of the Insoumis, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, explained on X that “the President of the Republic has just created a situation of exceptional gravity. The popular and political response must be swift and firm. The motion of impeachment will be tabled. When the time comes, a right-wing government will be censored. But organizations committed to the defense of democracy should engage in a joint response.”
“Are we still in a democracy when the President of the Republic refuses to recognize the results of the ballot box,” asks Eurodeputy Manon Aubry, “in a Republic, in a democracy, however monarchical, the President has no right of veto.
François Ruffin adds: “Macron is sitting on election results”.
As for ecologist Marine Tondelier, she denounces the “dangerous democratic irresponsibility” of Emmanuel Macron, who has the nerve “to invoke stability, when [he] dissolved without any consultation and [he] refuses the result of an election for which the French have never been so numerous to turn out.” In her opinion, this Élysée communiqué is “a disgrace”.
Who destabilized the institutions?
Indeed, who has destabilized the institutions if not the President of the Republic himself? Emmanuel Macron was defeated for the first time with the result of the European elections. As we have written, with over 31% for the RN list and 15% for the presidential party list, the results of the European elections in France sounded the death knell for Macronie.
Vexed by this electoral setback, President Macron dissolved the Assembly on the evening of June 9. Another stinging disappointment for himself and for the Macronie party, which retained a few dozen deputies thanks to the backroom arrangements of the second round to block the Rassemblement National.
Then came the election to the presidency of the National Assembly. A new institutional scandal on July 18. Gabriel Attal and 16 of his resigning ministers were elected deputies in the early legislative elections. Attal was even elected president of the Renaissance group on July 13, 2024. However, Article 23 of the Constitution states that “the functions of a member of the government are incompatible with the exercise of any parliamentary mandate.” This is what is known as the separation of powers, the executive and the legislative.
And yet, on July 18, 2024, Yaël Braun-Pivet (Renaissance) was re-elected President of the National Assembly on the third ballot, with a 13-vote margin over André Chassaigne (PCF-NFP). Fortunately for her, 17 deputy ministers were able to vote for Braun-Pivet….
What’s next?
After the Olympic Games and the summer vacations, it’s time to find a Prime Minister and form a new government. The sooner the better. The French are getting fed up with this self-important monarch. The country is in a bad way. Farmers are threatening to block the roads again. Business leaders are waiting for an economic recovery that is slow in coming, and the justice, health, education and public services sectors are all dry and want to get out of this political imbroglio with incalculable consequences.
Emmanuel Macron would do well to take the measure of French anger. Before the more radical French went looking for him. At the Élysée.
With a view to the appointment of a Prime Minister, the President @EmmanuelMacron received the leaders of the parties represented in Parliament as well as the Presidents of the two chambers. The press release: pic.twitter.com/cY5YAZRrms
— Elysee (@Elysee) August 26, 2024