“Court certain determining subjects.” Emmanuel Macron’s expression during his wishes on December 31 suggested the next organization of one or more referendums. Since then, the entourage of the Head of State has regularly repeated in the BFMTV political service that an advertisement could be made “before the end of spring.”
Will the President of the Republic ask the French to go to the polls at the fall during his television speech, this Tuesday, May 13 at night, in TF1? If so, on what topics? With the risk of a “gadget” referendum? What strategy after the promises of direct consultations in abundance since 2017, was never celebrated?
• Referendums, but what?
How can these future referendums be organized? The head of state seems to be tempted to meet the French “rather in autumn,” according to different relatives. Then it could be for them to answer “yes” or “no” to several questions, on different topics, in one or more bulletins. The strategy of ethics seems clear: “Depersonalize the vote to avoid a vote for or against Macron,” says a heavy weight of the government.
Among the issues mentioned regularly and recently: the Public Finance.
A few days ago, French Bayrou publicly announced a referendum about a “general plan” of recovery of public finances, for the potentially explosive budget of 2026. A hypothesis that seems to have been swept quickly by Emmanuel Macron. For the entourage of Gabriel Attal, “the remuneration of work is a vital issue, therefore, urgent.”
Another possible reflection: The organization of local authorities. “We feel, for example, the desire to eliminate a territorial level,” says a minister.
Regularly mentioned by Emmanuel Macron when the question of Regulation of the use of screens in the youngest It is also a track, like other social problems related to children. But for Marine Le Pen, if a referendum focused on “school working time”, it would be a “maneuver”, remembering the “2005 trauma”, as stated on Tuesday morning. According to the president of the National Rally deputies in the Assembly, a “referendum on immigration” is needed.
The same story of the current tenant of Place Beauvau, Bruno Retailleau. However, article 11 of the Constitution limits referendums to organizations for the organization of power, economic, social problems and environmental problems.
A limitation that would not allow the head of state to occur The delicate issue of the end of life for the suffrage of the French. However, several relatives of the Head of State imply that this is not completely excluded.
According to a macronista frame, “the head of state could be tempted to consider a consultation of the French, in one way or another, if parliamentarians cannot agree, and if the solemn vote of May 27 in the assembly quickly addresses Pugilat.” As a reminder, due to the parliamentary shuttle, there is no guarantee that this text can be voted before the end of the five -year term of Emmanuel Macron.
Finally, the relative questions In the defense budgetIn an uncertain international context, it cannot be excluded. During a question session answers with Internet users on February 20, the President of the Republic was interrogated about a possible increase in the French defense budget, as Poland now dedicating 5% of its GDP (against 2.1% for France).
“It is not true that we can do everything. We will have to make decisions, so I will need you (…) will impose very strong options (…) I will need you, your commitment,” he said.
With BFMTV’s political service, Emmanuel Macron’s entourage has also regularly repeated about a referendum: “There are many issues in the articulation between international and national, for example, when you think about the concept of independence.”
• The risk of “gadgets” referendum?
“The president is running a real risk when he goes down in the sand if he offers one or more referendums to the French, when he finds some colors in the opinion. Is it really strategic?” He cares about a deputy of the central block, while the popularity of the cadet of The Head of State has assumed some points since he dedicates almost the entire agenda to the diplomatic scene.
“We are waiting for Macron in the turn!” Says a left frame that suspects especially the head of state to want to take advantage of an international sequence where his action is considered consensual to return to the center of the game. Another temperature: “I don’t think it’s Egrip.”
But “if it is about consulting the French in Gadgets referendums with issues that do not interest anyone, it will inevitably return to the head like a Boomerang. And he will have us to denounce the rope!” Says a member of the national demonstration.
Anticipating possible criticism, a heavyweight of the government entrusts BFMTV: “There are no Gadgets issues! The entourage of the new chief of the Renaissance, Gabriel Attal, also sees in the referendum another advantage due to the rupture of the National Assembly:” You must decide questions that Parliament cannot decide on urgent subjects. “
• The referendum, always mentioned but never applied
But will the head of state really announce the possession of a referendum in a very well and due way? Or will an XXL vote imagine about the Swiss model? Are we moving towards a simple “giant survey” since certain opponents already criticize? Since 2017, the referendum has been a tool mentioned by Emmanuel Macron since 2017, but was never used so far.
From his speech before Congress he met in Versailles in July 2017, the new president of the Republic claimed to want to improve representativeness and indicated: “If necessary, I will resort to the vote of our fellow citizens by referendum.” But none took place during its first five years.
Some historical macronistas still regret today that the head of state will not use it in response to the movement of yellow vests in 2018: “However, there was a wide range of issues to collectively restore oxygen in this problematic period that also marked a real break in its mandate and its link with the French.”
As a chorus, the theme returns during the campaign for re -election in 2022. Emmanuel Macron then trusted BFMTV that “excludes” the referendum “for any reform” … including pension reform. But once again, this constitutional tool was not used for this. Until Tuesday night? Answer to follow.
Source: BFM TV
