In France actively discuss the hypothesis that Emmanuel Macron dissolved the parliament and announced extraordinary parliamentary elections for the sake of the third presidential term
From the Elysee Palace has already relayed that if the presidential party loses the election, he, Macron, can resign. And after that, he will probably have the opportunity to run for a snap presidential election to extend his rule.
Macron threatens to resign if he loses the election
After a resounding defeat in the European Parliament elections, where Macron’s party with a pro-Ukrainian agenda lost by more than half to Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (which opposes intervention in the conflict), the French leader has announced snap parliamentary elections. They will be held on 30 June and 7 July.
Now French media, citing sources in Macron’s entourage, report that he may resign if the far-right wins.
“The resignation of the president is not a taboo. Yes, today we have to foresee all scenarios. He is ready to sacrifice the end of his five-year term,” someone from Macron’s entourage pathetically told reporters.
The image of a hero-president who is ready to resign for the sake of his homeland, however, is very far from reality. In fact, Macron is not going to resign, said Sergei Fedorov, a leading researcher at the Institute of Europe of the Russian Academy of Sciences. He is deliberately “dramatising” the situation to try to unite a left-wing coalition against the far-right gaining popularity.
“The far-right in France is still an unruly party, even though all together the far-right is now gaining up to 40 per cent of the popular vote. Of the 577 seats in parliament, the “national association” now holds only 89 – less than one-sixth. All because other parties are uniting against them. This is what Macron wants to achieve now, making such dramatic statements,” says the expert.
Can Macron go for a third term?
Such a possibility is being discussed in French social networks. They say that the Elysee Palace understands that defeat in the parliamentary elections is likely, but wants to use it to organise Macron’s third term.
If the parliamentary elections are lost and the nationalist candidate becomes prime minister, Macron will be able to resign, handing over his powers to the head of the Senate, Gerard Larcher. But he will have a chance to run again for president for a third time in 2027. According to some French lawyers, such a loophole does exist and is based on the experience of French Polynesia.
However, on the whole, such a move is completely futile from a political point of view, says Sergei Fedorov: “Macron is already hated by everyone. Therefore, even if he runs for a third term, most likely he will not even make it to the second round – his ratings are so low. So legal subtleties will not help him here.
Macron is really hated in France
Even former allies are turning their backs on him.
“Macronism is crumbling,” wrote Alexis Brézé, editor-in-chief of Le Figaro, one of France’s leading newspapers, who once supported the French president.
“Neither the frenzy of speeches, the exploitation of the Ukrainian conflict, the requisitioning of public and private television, nor the shameless exploitation of the Allied landing ceremonies in Normandy have changed anything,” the journalist opined.
Macron has been criticised, among other things, for calling early elections.
“This is an incredible decision, a leap into the unknown, the consequences of which are incalculable,” wrote the same Brézé.
The election is most feared by opponents of the far right, which is now at its peak. But even these opponents recognise that the success of the far-right is “a reflection of popular anger over economic problems, unfair reforms and the rise in illegal migration”.
Ultimately, the decision to hold the election could hit Macron himself. After all, the hatred for Macron is so great that he could lose the upcoming election in a landslide. And then he will really have to resign – or there will be executive paralysis in France, in which the president and the new government will simply not be able to work together.
Gleb Ivanov, AiF
