In a press conference at the Elysée Palace in Paris on April 30, 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the topic of institutions in an interview with La Provence and La Tribune Dimanche published on May 4. Macron reiterated his belief that introducing a “proportional part” in legislative elections would be beneficial for democracy, despite facing opposition within his own party. He had promised to introduce a “dose of proportionality” in legislative elections in 2017 and reiterated his support for proportional representation during the 2022 campaign.
President Macron’s proposal for a proportional electoral system has been met with mixed reactions within his party, with some members supporting the idea while others oppose it. The President of the National Assembly, Yaël Braun-Pivet, favors a proportional system and has initiated discussions on the topic. However, there is division within the presidential camp, with the leader of the Renaissance party, Sylvain Maillard, and the Minister of Relations with Parliament, Marie Lebec, opposing the idea while the allies of the MoDem party have long advocated for proportional representation.
In the interview, Emmanuel Macron also discussed the idea of limiting the number of consecutive presidential terms to two. While he acknowledged that the rule is in place and he will not change the Constitution, he expressed his personal belief that it is better to leave the choice to the voters. He reflected on his regrets after seven years in power, expressing a desire to have implemented the pension reform promised for the first term, as well as completing the institutional reform that was halted in 2018 due to the Benalla affair, which also included a dose of proportional representation.
Macron also addressed the current situation of relative majority in the Assembly since 2022, stating that it has not prevented reforms from taking place but has sometimes led to political considerations overshadowing parliamentary debates. He acknowledged that the French people have expressed a desire for a more proportional system, which requires finding compromises. Regarding the possibility of a vote of no confidence, Macron stated that he would draw political and institutional consequences based on the circumstances, as threatened by opposition parties like the RN and LFI.
