The Fifth Republic has long been seen as an institutional architecture favoring the ability to govern while still allowing for alternation in power. However, in the last two decades, things have started to unravel. With the five-year presidential term, the President of the Republic has seemed increasingly burdened by his own power, as historian Nicolas Roussellier has noted. Should he be a “hyper-president,” a “normal president,” or a “Jupiter”? The Prime Minister, relegated to the background, could no longer serve as a buffer for an irresponsible head of state in front of Parliament. The three-party system clashed with the expected binary logic of the majority voting system in legislative and presidential elections, affecting the clarity of electoral choices and the legitimacy of the government. The Fifth Republic has become a machine of betrayal, frustration, and distrust, feeding populist fantasies.
To address this situation, a recent IFOP poll for Politis suggests a possible solution: a participatory constituent process. This idea is popular among the majority of citizens, except for voters of Les Républicains and Macron’s camp. It is particularly supported by younger generations and less educated working-class voters. Many advocate for the immediate gathering of a randomly selected Constituent Assembly. However, this route is not currently legal under French law. Modifying Article 89 of the Constitution, which defines the conditions for constitutional revision, would be necessary. However, such a reform would face opposition from the conservative Senate.
Dreaming of a major constitutional overhaul may not be feasible without severely compromising the rule of law and setting a dangerous precedent for allowing populist forces to violate the Constitution. However, there are steps that can be taken to offer hope to citizens without amending the Constitution. Starting with a modification to the method of electing deputies to include proportional representation could fundamentally shift the presidentialist logic in the future. The President would no longer be able to appoint a Prime Minister based on personal whim. Instead, the Prime Minister would be the one who, following elections, manages to unify political forces around a majority-supported programmatic compromise. Comparative politics shows that in European Union countries where a president is elected by universal suffrage but deputies are elected proportionally, it is the Prime Minister who governs.
In conclusion, the current state of the Fifth Republic presents challenges in terms of governance and legitimacy. While a complete constitutional overhaul may not be feasible at the moment, there are practical steps that can be taken to address some of the underlying issues. Modifying the election method for deputies to incorporate proportional representation could significantly alter the power dynamics within the government. This change could lead to a more balanced distribution of power and foster greater cooperation and compromise among political parties. While the path towards constitutional reform may be long and challenging, efforts towards creating a more inclusive and participatory political system are crucial in restoring trust and stability in the French political landscape.
