The France Insoumise (LFI) party, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Manuel Bompard, and Mathilde Panot, published a text in La Tribune on August 18 threatening to initiate impeachment proceedings against Emmanuel Macron. They accuse him of staging an “institutional coup against democracy” by refusing to recognize the results of the July legislative elections. They warn that all constitutional means will be used to remove Macron rather than submit to his actions against the basic rule of democracy, where the vote of the people should prevail.
The initiative to impeach Macron is supported only by LFI leaders, which was noted by the Secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), Olivier Faure, who is an ally of LFI in the New Popular Front (NFP). Faure expressed a preference for a vote of no confidence in case a prime minister is nominated who does not conform to republican tradition. The possibility of impeachment is deemed impractical as it requires a two-thirds majority in both the lower and upper houses of the French parliament.
The three signatories from LFI cautioned Macron against appointing a Prime Minister without considering the political outcome of the legislative elections, in which the Left, united under the NFP, emerged as the front-runner but fell short of an absolute majority. Macron had previously rejected the idea of appointing Lucie Castets from the NFP as Prime Minister, citing a lack of sufficient support in the Assembly.
The group of ‘insurgents’ invoke Article 68 of the Constitution, which allows for the president to be impeached for “breach of duties manifestly incompatible with the exercise of his mandate.” They argue that Macron’s refusal to acknowledge the legislative election results and his decision to override them constitute a serious breach of the presidential mandate. However, the impeachment process must overcome several hurdles, including convincing both houses of parliament to convene as a High Court.
If the High Court is formed, it has a month to vote, by secret ballot and with a two-thirds majority, on the impeachment of the president. LFI, with 72 deputies, can theoretically present the resolution alone, but they prefer to act collectively. They aim to involve leaders of their coalition parties and parliamentary group presidencies in the decision-making process. The Green Party leader, Marine Tondelier, emphasized the importance of Macron appointing Lucie Castets as Prime Minister.
The process of impeachment, if pursued, will require careful explanation to the people and methodical organization. LFI insists on the collective nature of their decision-making and the need to involve other political parties in the coalition. The potential impeachment of Macron raises questions about the country’s political future and the balance of power between the executive and legislative branches of government. Ultimately, the fate of Macron and the stability of the French political landscape hang in the balance.
