Proportional to legislative elections: “That would be good for democracy,” says Emmanuel Macron

Introducing a “proportional share” in legislative elections “would be good for democracy,” says Emmanuel Macron in La Tribune Dimanche and La Provence, speaking of an institutional issue that divides his camp.

Will he be able to implement proportional representation before his mandate expires? “If a majority appears to introduce a proportional part, then yes. This is a commitment that I have made. I think this would be good for democracy,” the head of state replies.

Emmanuel Macron promised in 2017 to introduce a “dose of proportionality” in legislative elections. During the 2022 election campaign, the President reiterated his support for proportional representation, even opening the door to full proportional representation with the number of seats proportional to the total number of votes received.

The President of the National Assembly, Yael Braun-Pivet, advocating a proportional approach, has launched consultations on this issue. But the presidential camp split. Renaissance MP leader Sylvain Maillard is opposed to it, as is parliamentary relations minister Marie Lebecq, and Modem’s allies have long campaigned in favor of this voting method.

In the interview, Emmanuel Macron also mentioned the limitation of two consecutive presidential mandates. It’s a rule of thumb, and I’m not going to change the Constitution, but “if you ask me, my personal opinion is I think it’s always better when we leave the choice to the voters,” he says.

“I would like to reform points-based pensions”

“I’m not necessarily telling you that I would like to be a third-term candidate,” but “when we put prohibitions into law, we are in a sense seizing some of the freedom of sovereign voters.”

The head of state also expresses certain regrets after 7 years in power. “I would like to carry out the point-based pension reform promised for the first five-year plan. The “yellow vest” crisis and then Covid prevented us from doing this,” he emphasizes.

“This was harder to implement than what we did last year (raising the age of majority to 64) because it involved a more fundamental overhaul of the system. I think this is an element that could make a profound difference,” he says.

Emmanuel Macron also “would like to complete the institutional reform stopped in 2018”, which was influenced by the Benalla case. In particular, it provided for a reduction in the number of parliamentarians and the introduction of proportional representation.

Asked about the relative majority situation that has prevailed in the Assembly since 2022, the President believes that this “has not prevented reforms,” even if it could “confuse the situation because parliamentary debates are diluted by political considerations.” “But we have to be clear,” he said. The French wanted “something more like a proportional system,” and this “forces us to look for compromises,” he continues to judge.

And if by chance a vote of no confidence is passed, as the opposition threatens, Emmanuel Macron “will entail political and institutional consequences that will depend on the circumstances,” he assures.