Richard Ferrand, new president of the Constitutional Council? This very close to Emmanuel Macron had some singular remarks, in the past, on our constitution.
Emmanuel Macron, as head of state, has a prerogative that escapes many French people. He has a right of appointment on the Constitutional Council and he would very much like, according to several very well informed media, that his friend Richard Ferrand takes over this major institution of the Republic. Recall that the Constitutional Council guarantees, thanks to the technical work of its members, that the new laws adopted by Parliament, in particular under the leadership of the government, comply with our Constitution.
The person who chairs the Constitutional Council is therefore invested with a crucial mission. And if Richard Ferrand occupies this function, he will be very exposed to criticism, at least to questions. The first concerns of course its proximity to Emmanuel Macron; The two men never hid their friendship. In a platform published in Le Monde Sunday, February 9, lawyers Dominique Chagnollaud and Jules Lepoutre judge that this appointment would be “emblematic of a sad perception of our rulers, who sometimes make high appointments, on which they have hands , a portfolio of favors to distribute to their loved ones on exclusive criteria of political proximity “.
There is no doubt that observers will recall that Richard Ferrand had had some very amazing remarks on our constitution, that he deemed improper on a specific point. The former Breton deputy and president of the National Assembly had indeed estimated, in June 2023, that “the limitation of the presidential mandate in time and the non -cumulation of mandates” were regrettable. “Personally, I regret everything that bridled the free expression of popular sovereignty,” he said. “All of this let us make our public life in rules that limit the free choice of citizens. It weakens our political life in quality and density, and makes it less attractive.” And to add: “Let’s change it all!”
Many opposition personalities had then castigated a proposal that they described as a way of changing our texts to allow Emmanuel Macron to present themselves for a third consecutive presidential mandate. “And why not restore the Empire with Macron 1er?”, In particular quipped Mathilde Panot, president of the LFI group in the National Assembly.
Richard Ferrand had to deny any autocratic will, specifying that he had never thought that such a change in the Constitution could take place for the presidential election of 2027.