During lengthy discussions with opposition party leaders in Saint-Denis on August 30, 2023, Emmanuel Macron, in passing, expressed that the limitation on presidential terms was a “disastrous nonsense,” according to several participants.
Emmanuel Macron referred to the limitation on the number of presidential terms, which prevents him from running for re-election in 2027, as a “disastrous nonsense” during his extended conversation with opposition party leaders on Wednesday in Saint-Denis, as reported by two participants who spoke to AFP on Thursday. According to these sources, confirming statements by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the President of the Republic said, “Not being able to be re-elected is a disastrous nonsense.”
“He may have made a joke on this theme” According to Jean-Luc Mélenchon, “Macron cracked. He said, ‘not being able to be re-elected is a disastrous nonsense.’ Being able to abbreviate his term through a recall referendum would be a general relief,” thundered the former insubordinate candidate in the presidential election on X (formerly Twitter), who was not present during the conversation.
“He may have made a joke on this theme,” nuanced a participant from the majority. At that point in the discussion, Emmanuel Macron was responding to a proposal from the leader of the National Rally, Jordan Bardella, regarding a single seven-year term.
Maximum of two consecutive terms since 2008 The President held discussions behind closed doors until late at night with the top leaders of opposition parties, both left and right. They demanded on Thursday “quick announcements” from the head of state to “concretely implement” this initiative.
Since a reform by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2008, the number of presidential terms in France has been limited to two consecutive terms. In an interview on Pascal Praud et vous this Tuesday, the former president discussed this limitation on Pascal Praud’s show. “Ten years is immense (…). Power is dangerous, you get used to it. It’s a hard drug. Ten years is more than enough,” Nicolas Sarkozy had declared on Europe 1.
With the impossibility for Emmanuel Macron, first elected in 2017 and currently aged 45, to run in 2027, the question of his succession is more than ever stirring up the presidential majority camp.
