Following the second round of legislative elections in France, the country appears to be facing governmental instability, and possibly a crisis of regime. It becomes urgent to initiate a reform of our institutions in order to establish a stable parliamentary democracy. A crucial first step would be the implementation of a constructive vote of no confidence in the National Assembly. The political system of the Fifth Republic has operated on the principle of majority rule, assuming the existence of an absolute majority in the National Assembly to form a stable government. However, as shown by the election results, this majority is not guaranteed.
In a scenario where there is no absolute majority in the National Assembly and a large fragmentation of political forces, any government, regardless of its orientation, will be constantly under the threat of a vote of no confidence. In this sense, the situation in the Fifth Republic may resemble that of the Fourth Republic, where frequent votes of no confidence led to short government tenures averaging seven months. In 1958, Michel Debré, a key architect of the Fifth Republic, stated that in France, governmental stability cannot solely rely on electoral law, emphasizing the need for strong legal regulation of parliamentary life.
Given the current electoral system’s failure to ensure governmental stability, a reform of parliamentary functioning is necessary. One simple solution is the implementation of a constructive vote of no confidence in the National Assembly. This type of motion must include a nominee for prime minister to replace the current one. The constructive vote of no confidence has two main advantages: it ensures governmental and parliamentary stability by avoiding destructive coalitions that would simply overturn a government without being able to establish a new one, and it promotes parliamentary democracy by giving the deputies the political choice of the prime minister through collective and pluralistic deliberation.
The implementation of a constructive vote of no confidence would represent a significant step towards strengthening the democratic and parliamentary system in France. It would help prevent governmental crises and ensure more transparent and accountable decision-making processes. By placing the power to choose the prime minister in the hands of elected representatives, this reform would promote a more inclusive and participatory democracy, where decisions are made through collective deliberation rather than through the authority of a single individual.Overall, the implementation of a constructive vote of no confidence could help stabilize the French political landscape and strengthen the country’s democratic institutions, securing a more stable and effective governance system for the future.
