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Macron Proposes Richard Ferrand for Presidency of France's Constitutional Council

The nomination of Ferrand, a close ally of Macron with a controversial past, reignites debates over political appointments to the Constitutional Council.

Richard Ferrand, le 17 mai 2022.
Alain Juppé, ancien Premier ministre de Jacques Chirac et ancien maire de Bordeaux, est membre du Conseil Constitutionnel depuis le 12 mars 2019.
Laurent Fabius, président du Conseil constitutionnel, ici dans son bureau, à l’occasion d’un entretien avec Le Figaro en 2020.
Après le décès de Robert Badinter et de Roland Dumas en 2024, il reste dix-neuf anciens membres du Conseil encore en vie.

Overview

  • Richard Ferrand, former president of the French National Assembly and long-time ally of Emmanuel Macron, has been nominated to lead the Constitutional Council, succeeding Laurent Fabius.
  • Ferrand's nomination has drawn criticism from constitutional experts and politicians, who argue that appointing political figures undermines the Council's independence.
  • Ferrand previously faced legal scrutiny in the 'Mutuelles de Bretagne' case, though the charges were dismissed in 2022 due to statute of limitations, raising concerns about his past controversies.
  • The nomination process requires parliamentary hearings and approval, with some predicting challenges due to Ferrand's political ties and Macron's waning influence within his party.
  • Critics are calling for reforms to reduce political influence in the Council, including stricter rules on appointing former politicians to safeguard the institution's impartiality.