Macron Faces Impeachment Threat Over Prime Minister Appointment Dispute

In a significant escalation of political tensions in France, the far-left party “La France Insoumise” has initiated impeachment proceedings against President Emmanuel Macron.

The move comes in response to Macron’s refusal to appoint Lucie Caste, the candidate put forward by a coalition of left-wing parties, as the country’s Prime Minister. The far-left accuses Macron of “usurping” power by disregarding the popular will expressed in the recent elections.

On Saturday, 31 August, Mathilde Panot, the leader of the “La France Insoumise” faction in the National Assembly, announced that a resolution to begin impeachment procedures had been distributed to members of the lower house of Parliament for their signatures.

Panot, in a statement on the social media platform X (formerly known as Twitter), declared, “Macron refuses to submit to the will of the people, and therefore, we must remove him!”

⚠️ 📝 Nous sommes prêts #MacronDestitution

La proposition de résolution pour engager la procédure de destitution du Président de la République, conformément à l’article 68 de la Constitution a été envoyée aujourd’hui aux parlementaires pour cosignatures.

Macron refuse de se… pic.twitter.com/u3DeEnpy5x

— Mathilde Panot (@MathildePanot) August 31, 2024

The resolution alleges that Macron’s refusal to appoint Lucie Caste, who was nominated by the “New People’s Front”—a left-wing coalition that includes “La France Insoumise”—constitutes a “serious breach of the duty to respect the will expressed by the general vote.” The far-left argues that the President’s actions undermine the democratic process and violate the spirit of the French Constitution.

Article 8 of the French Constitution, which outlines the President’s powers to appoint the Prime Minister, has become a focal point of this dispute. The far-left contends that the article does not grant the President the freedom to choose a Prime Minister at his discretion but merely states that the President “appoints the Prime Minister.” This interpretation has been central to the far-left’s justification for pursuing impeachment.

The procedure to remove a sitting President in France is governed by Article 68 of the Constitution, which sets a high bar for success. The process is lengthy and complex, requiring the approval of two-thirds of the members in both houses of Parliament, as well as the endorsement of a special parliamentary body known as the High Court. Given these stringent requirements, there is widespread scepticism about the likelihood of the impeachment process succeeding.

Even within the broader left-wing bloc, support for the impeachment is far from unanimous. Allies of “La France Insoumise” have expressed reservations about the strategy, with some declining to back the initiative. This lack of consensus within the left further complicates the prospects of a successful impeachment.

In addition to the impeachment move, the far-left has announced a withdrawal from further consultations on government formation. They have accused Macron of staging a “coup” and have called for mass protests on 7 September.

These developments signal a deepening rift in French politics, as the far-left mobilises its base in opposition to what it perceives as an illegitimate consolidation of power by the President.

The broader French public appears to be supportive of Macron’s decision not to appoint a “leftist” Prime Minister. This public sentiment may further isolate “La France Insoumise” in its efforts to challenge Macron’s presidency through impeachment.