By announcing the end of land rights in Mayotte, the executive is committing itself to the terrain of the National Rally. A choice which leaves itself open to several difficulties, in particular that of a reform of the Constitution.
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The executive announced on Sunday February 11 the abolition of land rights in Mayotte, and the National Rally applauded. Once again, Emmanuel Macron is venturing into the territory of the RN, a strategy that raises questions. First, Mayotte has always been the site of a clash between the president and Marine Le Pen. From the 2017 presidential campaign, they took turns on the spot: Marine le Pen was already calling for the abolition of land law, when candidate Macron in return accused her of lying.
But seven years later, he converted to the flagship proposal of the far-right candidate. Emmanuel Macron has identified the danger: for Marine Le Pen, Mayotte is a laboratory and the crisis on the archipelago is proof that her speech on a migratory submergence in Europe is credible. A speech that resonates in mainland France and overseas, where the former candidate continues to progress. By going to his field today, Emmanuel Macron is trying to contain his rise by showing that there are no taboos or ideas reserved for the RN. A risky strategy: taking up the adversary’s proposals also legitimizes him and makes it difficult to criticize a party whose ideas we adopt.
Reforming the Constitution, a long and risky process
But at this stage, the end of land rights in Mayotte is still only an idea. The path promises to be winding for the executive if it wants to implement this measure: this would require reforming the Constitution, which requires a long process. Emmanuel Macron will first have to have the agreement of both chambers of Parliament, but above all the Assembly and the Senate will have to agree on the same text. It’s hard to imagine that the Senate, dominated by the right and the center, will not want to raise the stakes by adding other measures on immigration or the extension of the end of land law.
If this step were nevertheless taken, the text would then have to be submitted to Congress, the meeting of the two chambers of Parliament, to obtain a favorable vote from three-fifths of parliamentarians. With the left opposed to the project on one side, and the right and far right on the other who find that it does not go far enough, there is no guarantee that the measure will see the light of day. Marine Le Pen would then have no problem denouncing the powerlessness of the executive. Aware of these pitfalls, Emmanuel Macron must bring together the Minister of the Interior and the Minister for Overseas Territories at 4 p.m. to give substance to a still vague project.
