France Unbowed calls for impeachment of Macron over 'serious failings'
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Mathilde Panot, the parliamentary leader of LFI, announced that the document had been circulated to other members of parliament to gather the necessary signatures.
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French President Emmanuel Macron attends a ceremony to mark the 80th anniversary of the police Prefecture liberation in Paris, Monday, Aug. 12, 2024 (Alain Jocard, Pool via AP)
On Saturday, the hard-left political party France Unbowed (LFI) urged other political factions to support its unlikely attempt to impeach President Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of "serious failings" in fulfilling his constitutional duties.
The call for impeachment comes amid a tense standoff between Macron and LFI, along with its Green, Socialist, and Communist allies. The conflict centers around Macron's refusal to appoint their candidate, Lucie Castets, as prime minister following July’s inconclusive parliamentary election. Despite their New Ecological and Social Popular Union (NFP) alliance winning the most seats, no party secured a majority in a fragmented parliament divided between the left, Macron's centrist supporters, and the far-right National Rally (RN).
In a draft impeachment resolution, LFI lawmakers claimed, "The National Assembly and Senate can and must defend democracy against the president's authoritarian leanings."
Mathilde Panot, the parliamentary leader of LFI, announced that the document had been circulated to other members of parliament to gather the necessary signatures.
La procédure pour engager la destitution du Président de la République, conformément à l’article 68 de la Constitution, a besoin de votre soutien !
— Clémence Guetté (@Clemence_Guette) August 31, 2024
Signez la pétition : https://t.co/8Z36spvPyb#MacronDestitution pic.twitter.com/ZJOaZWKy8y
Impeachment Faces Steep Challenges
Despite LFI's push, any attempt to impeach Macron under Article 68 of France's constitution faces significant hurdles.
The impeachment process would require the approval of two-thirds of both the National Assembly and the Senate, making success highly unlikely.
LFI criticizes Macron's actions, arguing that he is overstepping his role by engaging in political maneuvering to find a prime minister who can withstand a confidence vote.
However, many constitutional experts argue that the Fifth Republic's 1958 constitution—designed with the expectation of a clear electoral majority—lacks clear guidelines for handling a hung parliament.
Read more: France Insoumise to hold mass rally over Macron's government exclusion
Macron has defended his refusal to appoint Castets by citing his responsibility to maintain "institutional stability" amid the current political deadlock.
Reports previously mentioned that a new prime minister would be appointed on Tuesday, but Macron decided to initiate a new round of talks instead, sending the left-wing coalition into a rage and prompting them to call for public protests for the impeachment of the president.
"My responsibility is that the country is not blocked nor weakened," Macron said in a statement, urging "all political leaders to rise to the occasion by demonstrating a spirit of responsibility."
