Paris, France | AFP | Tuesday 09/17/2024 – The request for the impeachment of Emmanuel Macron, brought by LFI, obtained the green light from the office of the National Assembly on Tuesday, a first step hailed as a victory by the Insoumis, even if the procedure has almost no chance of succeeding as it stands.
Not a single vote was missing from the left: by 12 votes to 10, the highest executive body of the lower house deemed admissible the resolution proposal submitted by all the Insoumis deputies – and a handful of ecologist and communist elected officials.
A score that corresponds exactly to the short majority held within the office by the New Popular Front, including the socialists. The position of the PS group, long undecided, was only decided the previous evening.
Opposed to this approach, the President of the Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet expressed her concern in a press release about a “misuse of the rule of law” that the opposition wanted, according to her, to “exploit for purely political ends”.
The decision is nevertheless acquired and leads to the transmission of the text to the Laws Commission of the Assembly, which must still include it on its agenda. Procedural act immediately celebrated as a “victory” by the LFI deputies on the social network X.
Their president, Mathilde Panot, welcomed a “historic day” marked by this “unprecedented event in the Fifth Republic”.
While taking the opportunity to once again relay the petition demanding the dismissal of the head of state, which to date has more than 308,000 signatures.
And to drum up support for the demonstrations planned for Saturday against a “Macron-Barnier government”, at the initiative of student and feminist organizations. With the hope of doing better than the 110,000 to 300,000 people – according to the police or the organizers – who marched on September 7 against the “coup de force” of the head of state.
“We must continue (…) Macron must go,” summed up the LFI vice-president of the Assembly, Clémence Guetté.
– “Doomed to failure” –
Impeachment nevertheless seems highly unlikely, with few other parliamentarians sharing the idea that Emmanuel Macron committed “a serious breach of the duty to respect the will expressed by universal suffrage” by refusing to appoint Lucie Castets to Matignon, a candidate designated by a New Popular Front, certainly strong with 193 deputies, but far from the absolute majority of 289 seats in the Assembly.
Outside of LFI, environmentalist Benjamin Lucas welcomed a “surge of dignity from Parliament” in the face of a President of the Republic who “flouted an election that he himself called”.
But if the communists wanted “the debate to take place”, they would “surely be in the majority not to vote for the resolution”, indicated their representative at the office, Stéphane Peu.
And the socialists have already warned that they will vote “unanimously” against this procedure which, according to them, risks “giving new legitimacy” to the head of state because it is “doomed to failure”.
Observation based on the balance of power in committee, where the left as a whole is in the minority, just as in the hemicycle where it would also be necessary to obtain two thirds of the votes.
The same in the Senate, where the right is in a strong position, then ultimately before the two chambers united in the High Court.
A mouse hole that would notably assume the support of the National Rally. However, its boss Marine Le Pen has clearly closed the door, denigrating a “smoke screen maneuver” by the “extreme left” to “try to make people forget its multiple compromises with Macron’s party.”
In the presidential camp, the former Prime Minister and leader of the Renaissance deputies Gabriel Attal declared during the meeting of the bureau of the Assembly that “this motion and this debate (are) a declaration of war on our institutions”, describing its authors as “agents of permanent destabilization”.
The Modem group also denounced an “attempt at destabilization” in a press release, deploring “an abusive appeal” and “a distortion of parliamentary procedure” which “appears contrary to the spirit and the letter of our Constitution.”
What are the implications of the National Assembly’s approval of the impeachment request against Emmanuel Macron?
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Historic Day in French Politics: Macron Impeachment Request Given Green Light
In a surprise move, the National Assembly’s office has approved the impeachment request against French President Emmanuel Macron, brought forth by the Leftist party, La France Insoumise (LFI). This unprecedented decision has been hailed as a victory by the Insoumis, despite the slim chances of the procedure succeeding.
A Narrow Victory for the Left
The highest executive body of the lower house narrowly approved the resolution by 12 votes to 10, marking a historic moment in French politics. The Leftist party, LFI, was joined by a handful of ecologist and communist elected officials in submitting the resolution. The Socialists, who had been undecided until the previous evening, ultimately voted in favor of the proposal, securing the necessary majority.
Concerns over Misuse of the Rule of Law
However, not everyone is celebrating this decision. The President of the Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, has expressed concerns over the potential “misuse of the rule of law” for political gains. She believes that the opposition is exploiting the procedure for political ends, rather than upholding the principles of justice.
A Historic Day for the Fifth Republic
Despite the concerns, the decision is deemed a significant milestone by LFI deputies, who took to social media to celebrate this “victory.” LFI president, Mathilde Panot, described the day as “historic” and “unprecedented” in the Fifth Republic. She also used the opportunity to promote the ongoing petition calling for the dismissal of President Macron, which has garnered over 308,000 signatures to date.
Mass Demonstrations Planned
In addition to the impeachment request, LFI is rallying support for mass demonstrations planned for Saturday against the “Macron-Barnier government.” The party hopes to build on the momentum of previous protests, which saw between 110,000 to 300,000 people take to the streets on September 7.
Doomed to Failure?
Despite the initial success, the impeachment procedure is unlikely to succeed. The majority of parliamentarians do not share the view that President Macron committed a “serious breach of the duty to respect the will expressed by universal suffrage” by refusing to appoint Lucie Castets as Prime Minister. The communists, who initially supported the debate, are unlikely to vote in favor of the resolution, while the socialists have already warned that they will vote against the procedure.
A Long Shot
The impeachment process faces significant hurdles, including the need for a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly and the Senate. Even if the resolution were to pass these hurdles, it would ultimately require the support of the National Rally, which has already ruled out cooperation.
A Political Maneuver
The impeachment request has been criticized by some as a political maneuver to undermine President Macron’s authority. The National Rally’s leader, Marine Le Pen, has described the move as a “smoke screen” by the ”extreme left” to distract from their own political failures.
while the approval of the impeachment request may be seen as a historic moment, its chances of success are slim. The French political landscape remains complex, and the coming weeks will be filled with intense negotiations and protests as the country navigates this unprecedented situation.
Keywords: Emmanuel Macron, Impeachment, La France Insoumise, LFI, National Assembly, French Politics, Fifth Republic, Yaël Braun-Pivet, Mathilde Panot, Marine Le Pen, National Rally.
– What does the French National Assembly’s green light for Macron’s impeachment mean for French politics?
Emmanuel Macron Impeachment Request Gets Green Light from French National Assembly
In a historic move, the French National Assembly has given the go-ahead to a request to impeach President Emmanuel Macron, brought forth by the left-wing party La France Insoumise (LFI). Although the procedure has little chance of succeeding, the decision is being hailed as a victory by the Insoumis and marks a significant milestone in the country’s political landscape.
A Narrow Victory
The highest executive body of the lower house voted 12 to 10 in favor of allowing the impeachment resolution to proceed, with the Socialists (PS) ultimately deciding to support the measure just the previous evening. This narrow victory corresponds exactly to the short majority held within the office by the New Popular Front, including the Socialists.
Concerns Expressed
President of the Assembly Yaël Braun-Pivet expressed concern over the misuse of the rule of law, stating that the opposition was attempting to exploit the situation for purely political ends. However, the decision has been acquired, and the text will be transmitted to the Laws Commission of the Assembly, which must now include it on its agenda.
Celebration and Controversy
LFI deputies quickly took to social media to celebrate the decision, with party president Mathilde Panot hailing it as a “historic day” marked by this “unprecedented event in the Fifth Republic.” The party is also using the opportunity to promote a petition demanding Macron’s dismissal, which has garnered over 308,000 signatures to date.
Unlikely Success
Despite the excitement, impeachment appears highly unlikely, given that few other parliamentarians share the view that Macron has committed “a serious breach of the duty to respect the will expressed by universal suffrage” by refusing to appoint Lucie Castets to Matignon. The communists, environmentalists, and socialists have all expressed reservations or outright opposition to the procedure, citing concerns over its legitimacy and likelihood of success.
Doubts Over Legitimacy
Outside of LFI, there is widespread skepticism about the impeachment bid. The socialists have warned that they will vote “unanimously” against the procedure, arguing that it risks giving new legitimacy to Macron due to its doomed nature. The communists, while initially supportive, have also expressed doubts, stating that they would likely not vote in favor of the resolution.
Procedural Hurdles
The impeachment process faces significant procedural hurdles, including the need for two-thirds majority votes in both the Assembly and the Senate. The right-wing majority in the Senate and the High Court would also need to be overcome, making success a distant prospect.
Reactions and Consequences
Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, has dismissed the impeachment bid as a “smoke screen maneuver” by the “extreme left” to distract from their own compromises with Macron’s party. The presidential camp has also downplayed the significance of the move, highlighting the procedural difficulties ahead.
As the impeachment process unfolds, it remains to be seen what implications this will have for Macron’s presidency and the French political landscape as a whole. One thing is certain, however – the move has already sparked intense debate and will continue to dominate headlines in the days and weeks to come.
Key Takeaways:
The French National Assembly has given the green light to an impeachment request against President Emmanuel Macron, brought by La France Insoumise (LFI).
The decision was made possible by a narrow 12-10 vote, with the Socialists ultimately deciding to support the measure.
Despite the historic nature of the decision, impeachment appears unlikely due to procedural hurdles and opposition from other parties.
The move has sparked widespread debate and controversy, with implications for Macron’s presidency and the French political landscape.
