With the departure of Laurent Fabius, Emmanuel Macron would think of a faithful among the faithful to take the lead of the Constitutional Council. An already criticized choice.
Who to take the lead of the Constitutional Council? The question has tickled a good number of observers of French political life for a few weeks. And for good reason, Laurent Fabius’s nine-year term, appointed in his time by the former President of the Republic François Hollande, is coming to an end. On March 7, the one who himself succeeded Jean-Louis Debré as president of the prestigious council of wise men, will give way. Loads Emmanuel Macron to find him a successor.
End of January, Le Figaro advanced several names, claiming that the President of the Republic hesitated between a political profile and two state advisers to the career, it was said, “accomplished”. It seems that the ex-director of Elisabeth borne cabinet in Matignon and former president of the Conseil’s litigation section, Jean-Denis COMBREXELLE, and the ex-boss of the Council of State and former president of The Competition Authority, Bruno Lasserre, finally seem to have been dismissed in favor of a certain … Richard Ferrand. According to franceinfoon February 10, the day of the big announcement, it could ultimately be the name of the latter, ex-president of the National Assembly and faithful among the faithful, who should come out.
A choice already criticized
A consecration for the ex-socialist who would not only take the head of the institution responsible for deciding on the conformity of the laws, but above all, which would occupy this strategic function during the entire next presidential mandate. Which could be the first of Marine Le Pen, we fear behind the scenes in the Macron camp. Or at least, from the far right. However, the choice to appoint Richard Ferrand, even if he is not yet official, is already very criticized.
“The Constitutional Council cannot be the place where you are recased your friends,” reacted the rebellious Manuel Bompard on Sunday on the set of BFM Politics. But it is not only in the opposition that this choice raises questions. Several constitutionalists also sound the alarm. This is particularly the case with Benjamin Morel who published this weekend in La Tribune on Sunday A titled opinion ticket: “Richard Ferrand to the Constitutional Council: False bulwark and real gift for Marine Le Pen”. He defends the idea that this “purely political” choice can “weaken this key institution”.
“Name a loved one renowned for its devotion, but whose name has been associated in business opinion, is likely to deeply tarnish the legitimacy of an institution more than ever central in our political life”, even though That the rule of law, “increasingly criticized”, has never been “so fragile”, justifies the constitutionalist. For the time being, nothing official, let us remember. The President of the Republic will announce his choice next week. A name that should then be validated by parliamentarians at the beginning of March. With three fifths of the votes of deputies and senators, Parliament could just as well invalidate this appointment.