This is the threat drawn by Emmanuel Macron. In the event of a motion of censure against the government under the background of pension reform, the President of the Republic “would defer to the French and the French would decide”explains the Minister of Labor Olivier Dussopt, Thursday, September 289, to justify the possibility of an imminent dissolution of the National Assembly.
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franceinfo presents three elements to know about this exclusively presidential power of action.
What is the dissolution of the National Assembly?
This is one of the powers that the Constitution attributes exclusively to the President of the Republic. “The President may, after consultation with the Prime Minister and the Presidents of the Assemblies, pronounce the dissolution of the National Assembly”poses article 12. This decision automatically leads to new legislative elections to re-elect an assembly of deputies.
The Constitution specifies that this ballot must take place at least 20 days after the dissolution, and at the latest 40 days afterwards. The objective for the president is to hope for the election of more deputies who will be on his side, to be endowed with a more solid majority, and thus to pass his reforms more easily.
In which case can the president pronounce a dissolution?
He can if he wishes to resolve a crisis situation or an institutional deadlock. However, the latter is only possible once in the year following a dissolution. And if he is required to consult the Prime Minister and the Presidents of the Senate and of the National Assembly before pronouncing the dissolution, he is however not obliged to follow their advice.
A process often used under the Fifth Republic?
No, this process is not common. In more than 60 years, there have only been five dissolutions of the National Assembly. The very first dates back to 1962 by General De Gaulle. At the time de Gaulle wanted to revise the Constitution and for that he wanted to go through a referendum, an option contested even within his ranks. A motion of censure overturns his government and De Gaulle responds immediately by dissolving the Assembly. It is a success for him, since the Gaullists won 40% of the votes in the second round.
Of the five dissolutions, only one ended in failure, the very last in 1997. The failed bet is that of Jacques Chirac. These French give a majority to the left. Lionel Jospin will be named Prime Minister, a result that led to the start of the longest cohabitation the country has known.