US, WASHINGTON (ORDO NEWS) — How to regain control of the political situation? This is the question that Emmanuel Macron has been asking himself since the onset of the covid-19 crisis. In this regard, several opportunities open up before him: a change in the Prime Minister, the dissolution of the National Assembly, a referendum, and resignation.
Regarding the latter hypothesis, political circles immediately dismissed it as extremely unlikely, but the president himself, apparently, does not exclude it.
“In the coming weeks or months”
In any case, he said just that about two weeks ago to a very limited group of people. During the first round of sponsors in 2017 in London, Emmanuel Macron, to the surprise of the participants, wedged into their conversation via video link. He spoke for about five minutes, and his words clearly demonstrated his willingness, as he likes to say, to “take risks.”
According to one of the participants, Emmanuel Macron said that he was considering the possibility of resigning to hold early presidential elections “in the coming weeks or months.”
The goal of the head of state is extremely transparent: to regain control of the political situation in a difficult period, since he is convinced that this will catch his rivals by surprise. By the way, he confirmed this to his interlocutors, asking them to provide funds: “I am sure that I will win because I have no opponent.”
The fact is that although the left and were able to improve their situation after the municipal elections, it will be difficult for them to agree on a single candidate for the presidential election. As for the right, among them is the confusion between the determined Xavier Bertrand and the decision to postpone the decision until the fall of François Baroin.
“We do not rule out any hypotheses”
Emmanuel Macron did not say that he had made such a decision, but nevertheless mentioned this scenario in front of a group of people and did not touch upon other possibilities, for example, changing the prime minister, which all Paris is talking about. In the Champs Elysees we were told that “in principle, we do not exclude any hypotheses,” but then added: “The hypothesis of resignation was never planned or even mentioned at meetings in the Champs Elysees.”
Nothing indicates that the president will actually dwell on this radical decision, which involves many risks. Since 1958, pre-term presidential elections were held twice in France: in 1969 after the resignation of General de Gaulle and in 1974 after the death of Georges Pompidou. Nevertheless, not a single head of state has yet left his post to then immediately stand as a candidate.
How can the French react to this? If Emmanuel Macron goes this way, he will have to find weighty arguments to convince voters. The situation in the economy and society may justify such an attempt to confirm legitimacy. Moreover, the election campaign would be very short. Article 7 of the Constitution states that “in the event of a vacancy in the post of President of the Republic (…), voting for the election of a new President shall take place (…) no later than twenty and no later than thirty-five days.” “The period of reflection and consultation begins,” they say in the Champs Elysees. “Everything is considered in such an environment.” President Macron’s decision will become known “in the coming weeks or months.”
On Thursday, the Champs Elysees issued a refutation. “The President of the Republic never spoke of resignation,” the administration told France-Presse. In addition, “he did not participate in a video conference with sponsors.”
—
Online:
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.