Richard Ferrand Nominated to Lead France's Constitutional Council

The former National Assembly president, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, faces parliamentary review amid criticism over political appointments.

Richard Ferrand has been nominated by President Emmanuel Macron to replace Laurent Fabius as head of France's Constitutional Council.
Ferrand, a former president of the National Assembly, is one of three new appointees to the Council, alongside Laurence Vichnievsky and Philippe Bas, nominated by the heads of the Assembly and Senate respectively.
Criticism has emerged from opposition parties, citing concerns about the political nature of Ferrand's appointment and the perceived shift away from appointing jurists to the Council.
The nomination process includes parliamentary review by the commissions of laws in both the National Assembly and the Senate, with a high threshold required to block any candidate.
Ferrand is expected to undergo his parliamentary hearing on February 19, with his confirmation likely given the historical difficulty of achieving the required majority to reject a nominee.