France's Le Monde: French Political Crisis: "The President Can No Longer Be, and Should Not Be, a Strongman of the System"
The French political crisis was one of the key topics covered by France's Le Monde on Friday. Within just a few days, not only did the "lightning government" of Lecornne last only fourteen hours, but there were also ministerial infighting, betrayal, and resignations of ministers. This series of political farces left the French people in shock.
Regarding the root cause of the French political crisis, Le Monde published an article on its opinion page on Friday written by two constitutional scholars, Olivier Beaud and Denis Baranger. The two constitutional scholars emphasized that President Macron should no longer, and should not be, acting like a strongman of the regime.
The article stated that the problem stems from the fact that Macron is still trying to govern a country without a governing majority, or even without a real "presidential party", with a "strongman" attitude. Since Macron dissolved the parliament and held new parliamentary elections in June 2024, the political landscape in France has become fragmented, and traditional majorities have disappeared. Instead of seeking a real parliamentary alliance, Macron appointed Lecornne as Prime Minister based solely on personal trust. Lecornne, who is described as Macron's "most loyal follower," is neither a party leader nor a central figure of power, and has no ability to form a stable majority in the Parliament. The result is obvious: the government he formed collapsed before it could even present its policy platform.
The article also pointed out that behind this "political comedy," the old problem of the Fifth Republic's system is exposed: how much power can the president actually have? Since 1962, when the French president was changed to direct election, the "semi-presidential system" in France is often interpreted as a "president-led parliamentary system." This interpretation works when the president has a parliamentary majority; however, once the majority is lost, the president's "personal power" becomes an illusion. Macron has hit this structural dilemma exactly this time.
The President Has "Exclusive Powers"
The article continued, stating that the French Constitution indeed grants the president some "exclusive powers" - such as the power to dissolve parliament and appoint the prime minister. These powers do not require anyone's signature for approval, and they sound very impressive. But theory is one thing, reality is another. Macron unilaterally announced the dissolution of parliament in June 2024 without even symbolically consulting the prime minister or the speaker of the parliament. Such a "personal decision," although legal, appears arbitrary. Subsequently, he appointed three governments that were politically unstable, each one more fragile than the previous one. The constitution does not prohibit him from doing so, but political common sense tells us that a president without parliamentary support will only fall deeper into isolation.
The article also stated that the French constitutional tradition has always emphasized balance and compromise, rather than individual will. Now, Macron has no support from the party machine and has lost the trust of the centrist alliance. Even his former Prime Minister, Atta, openly said "he no longer understands the president's decisions." When the president is alone, without a party or a majority, he has no real power. No matter how grand the constitutional wording is, it cannot make the regime function. The legitimacy of the president comes from the popular vote, but the effectiveness of governance depends on parliamentary support. Without the latter, the former becomes an island. If Macron continues to see himself as the "only helmsman" within the system, the French political crisis will only deepen further. Therefore, constitutional scholars Beaud and Baranger called on the president to return to reality, learn to find a majority within the framework of the system, rather than against the majority. The president should no longer be a "strongman of the system," but rather a "balancer and mediator."
At the time of this program's deadline, it was reported that Lecornne was again appointed as Prime Minister by Macron. The leader of the far-right party National Rally, Bardella, immediately stated that the party would "immediately" impeach Lecornne's new government and condemn it as a "hopeless team."
Where will the French political crisis go? It needs to be further observed.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1845678209013772/
Statement: This article represents the views of the author.