return to general policy declarations under the Fifth Republic

The news put into perspective every Saturday, thanks to the historian Fabrice d’Almeida.

The general policy declaration is an ancient parliamentary exercise which, under the Third and Fourth Republics, was called investiture. A head of government newly designated by the president had to appear before the Chamber of Deputies to present his program and obtain a majority of votes. The Fifth Republic kept the idea of ​​presenting the program, but the government is no longer obliged to take responsibility. He can remain in place without a vote taking place, which will be the case on Tuesday October 1 for the government of Michel Barnier.

Some of these general policy declarations of the Fifth Republic have remained in memory: the first with Michel Debré, who inaugurated the exercise in 1959. But I want to remember a moment of political emotion, ten years later, when Jacques Chaban- Delmas appeared before the Assembly in 1969. He then recalled that for ten years he had chaired this same assembly, with marks of friendship from the parliamentarians.

The feeling of a turning point is evident of course after the victory of François Mitterrand in the 1981 presidential election. In July, before the deputies, Pierre Mauroy spoke of a new era, “renewal”. Still under the presidency of François Mitterrand, Jacques Chirac in 1986 easily took responsibility with his new majority. As for Rocard, in 1988, he dreamed of being the new Martin Luther King and began his speech by chanting: “I dream of a country…”

In 1991, Edith Cresson, the first woman appointed to Matignon and therefore the first woman to exercise this general policy declaration, was criticized (with a touch of misogyny) for her voice and the sound system of the Assembly.

More recently, Edouard Philippe’s declaration in 2017 is one of the rare ones to evoke those of his predecessors. Michel Barnier, Tuesday, will be part of this long history. Despite the lack of a majority, it will undoubtedly stick to the long term to propose key measures and try to convince public opinion beyond the chamber.