Emmanuel Macron was first elected in 2017 and was reelected in 2022 | Ludovic Marin/AFP via Getty Images
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron slammed the two-term constitutional limit that means he must step down in 2027 as “damnable bullshit” in comments at a meeting with party leaders on Wednesday.
According to the far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, Macron said it was “damnable bullshit that one could not be reelected,” words that were also confirmed to the AFP news agency by two participants.
In France, presidents cannot be elected for more than two five-year terms, which means Macron is set to become the country’s youngest former president, aged only 49. The deadline has raised questions over whether the French president’s power is already waning as his allies and supporters start looking ahead to a future without him at the helm.
Macron was first elected in 2017 and was reelected in 2022, following a presidential campaign overshadowed by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Macron reportedly expressed his frustration at France’s rules at a meeting he called with party leaders from across the political spectrum to discuss possible policy areas they could work on. Currently, the French government often faces a gridlocked parliament because Macron’s allies do not have a majority in the National Assembly.
The French president and party leaders spent 12 hours locked in talks Wednesday, without access to their phones, to discuss a range of topics including Ukraine, inflation, purchasing power and institutional reform.
The president was reportedly responding to a proposal by far-right leader Jordan Bardella, who was suggesting France switch to a single seven-year presidential term.
This is not the first time that a member of Macron’s camp has expressed frustration at the two-term limit. In June, the former parliamentary speaker Richard Ferrand said he was against the rules as they limit “the expression of popular will.” His comments were slammed by both the political right and the left, with some accusing the presidential camp of drifting toward authoritarianism.
The French presidential palace declined to comment on Macron’s remarks.
Tiennus_Khan on September 1st, 2023 at 01:51 UTC »
Bullshit title, this should be flagged as misleading. I don't like Macron's politics but, come on.
He said that during a 12-hour roundtable with all the leaders of parties represented in the Parliament in order to discuss all the issues facing the nation. It was very long and no information leaked during the meeting, so everyone's memories are a little fuzzy to their own admission.
Therefore, it's not exactly clear why he said that. Libération (left-leaning newspaper) suggests it was a reaction to the idea put forward by Le Pen (far right leader)'s party to replace the 5-years term with a non-renewable 7-years term. NOT to the fact that there's a two consecutive terms limit for presidents.
Fabien Roussel, leader of the Communist Party, claimed it was less specific (DeepL translation) :
Even Manuel Bompard, leader of La France Insoumise (left-wing, perhaps Macron's fiercest opposition) claimed it was said in general and that Macron didn't ask for the possibility of a third term (DeepL again) :
Whether you agree with Macron or not on the issue, Politico is making wild accusations with this title.
No_Sense_6171 on August 31st, 2023 at 21:39 UTC »
Any time a politician bitches about term limits, it's a good indication that everyone else wants him gone.
coredump8036 on August 31st, 2023 at 20:51 UTC »
Some people just have a strong natural instinct for autocracy or dictatorship.