French media are making gentle of a supposed ‘quip’ by the president that might result in the abolition of the two-term restrict
By Matthieu Buge, who has labored on Russia for the journal l’Histoire, the Russian movie journal Séance, and as a columnist for Le Courrier de Russie. He’s the creator of the guide Le Cauchemar russe (‘The Russian Nightmare’).
A (not so) secret assembly
On August 30, a gathering behind closed doorways occurred between Emmanuel Macron and the heads of opposition events in Saint-Denis, Paris. It turned out that the doorways weren’t so effectively closed, and one side of the assembly, at which the French presidency itself was mentioned, made it to the press.
These days, the French president can serve two five-year phrases. The pinnacle of the right-wing opposition celebration Nationwide Rally (Rassemblement nationwide) Jordan Bardella recommended it might be a good suggestion to get again to seven-year presidential phrases – because it was earlier than Jacques Chirac clipped them to 5 years – however with a restrict of 1 time period. The president would serve seven years after which return to civil society. Emmanuel Macron, in accordance with sources cited by AFP, answered that “the limitation on [the number of] phrases has been disastrous bulls**t”. It’s not a query of the size of the time period, then, it’s a query of the restricted variety of phrases.
This restrict was applied by then-President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008 for some obscure motive – did he need to curb his personal ambitions, did “Sarko l’Américain” need to make France look extra just like the US? Nobody actually is aware of. However the present French president appears to suppose it was a mistake and that he needs to be reelected as many instances as he can.
Centrist François Bayrou, a politician near Macron who was additionally current on the St Denis assembly, mentioned he didn’t hear the president say these phrases, and that “there have been smiles.” He makes it appear like Macron’s phrases (in the event that they had been certainly uttered) had been only a quip. It could be so. The present French president is a born provocateur. Nonetheless, the previous president of the Nationwide Meeting Richard Ferrand, who belongs to Macron’s political celebration, mentioned the identical factor in June. Coincidence? Actually not. Emmanuel Macron, the youngest French president ever, is making a transfer. What are his choices?
In 2027 he has to step down, in accordance with the Structure. However, in contrast to within the US, France permits a former president who has already served two phrases to return again afterward. A constitutional reform would enable Macron to be candidate for reelection in 2027. In any other case, he must wait till 2032, and the five-year span might be politically deadly for him if the subsequent president proves to be extra well-liked – one thing probably not tough to attain.
Nothing private, simply enterprise?
Macron is younger. In 2027, he shall be solely 49. As François Bayrou mentioned, “Macron will stay a French and European democratic chief.” Right here, one wants to think about the French political spectrum. Who’re Macron’s potential opponents? There should not many, even when Macron is essentially unpopular. His former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe might be. However the present Minister of Inner Affairs, Gérald Darmanin, a really bold man, has already began to place himself as the subsequent president. He’s a part of Macron’s crew. He’s backed by Nicolas Sarkozy. And he really makes use of Sarkozy’s technique, when the latter was elected in 2007 whereas he was answerable for the identical ministry.
For Macron, the most suitable choice could be to have Marine Le Pen of the Nationwide Rally getting elected in 2027. She could be completely unable to rule the nation. Not solely as a result of she is incompetent. The administration, the judicial authorities, the academic system, all of the buildings of the state, that are often left-wing oriented, detest her. They’d successfully refuse to conform. It could be a complete mess. And, consequently, it might imply a sure comeback for Macron in 2032 – and even earlier. And if, within the meantime, the constitutional reform occurred, he would come again with no time period limitations.
However is it actually only a query of private ambition? Sure, as with many politicians, Macron has a streak of egotistical psychopathy – however he’s additionally top-of-the-line troopers of the Western system. Is non-public Macron nonetheless wanted? He did his finest in the course of the Covid-19 disaster (he shall be remembered because the one who needed to “piss off the unvaccinated”), he’s engaged full-time within the Ukraine battle, and he takes in migrants by the million, disseminating them by the countryside. No French politician is so well-connected with monetary worldwide circles and Western supranational elites.
He’s the nice French soldier of the system. He wants to remain. As the top of France, or… as the top of the EU after Ursula von der Leyen? As Bayrou mentioned, “Macron will stay a French and European democratic chief.”
Media let the cat out of the bag
This obvious “leak” within the media is a check. What the press prints or stays silent about is rarely a matter of likelihood or coincidence. Journalists are right here to organize the bottom for political maneuvers. How would the French inhabitants welcome such a reform? Is a referendum wanted? A referendum could be a catastrophe for Macron as his scores are catastrophic. The script must be effectively written. That is the place institution media journalists’ hypocrisy reaches its climax.
They first get consistent with Macron’s phrases, recalling that in 2008, constitutional specialists mentioned that Sarkozy’s reforms had been certainly a mistake. Right here is their historic argument. Then they take out the philosophical violins to play music, a tune which sounds proper provided that you neglect that they’ve been trashing long-lasting political leaders in “adversarial” nations akin to Putin, Xi, Gaddafi, Assad, and so forth.: “There could also be an distinctive man or girl, or distinctive circumstances, akin to a warfare, which might make one need to hold a president for greater than ten years,” as one can learn on RMC. They immediately remind the general public that “one can rule a rustic for an extended time frame with out being a dictator.”
At a time when France is being kicked out of Africa, perhaps African journalists are those who write finest about Macron’s “quip.” As they observed, Macron’s phrases had been uttered whereas the coup in Gabon was partially as a result of third time period of Macron-backed Ali Bongo, whereas Macron was against Alpha Condé’s third time period in Guinea. It speaks for itself in relation to Macron’s psychology and cynicism.
The statements, views and opinions expressed on this column are solely these of the creator and don’t essentially signify these of RT.
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