France: National Assembly Bureau approves draft resolution on Macron’s impeachment
The Bureau of the National Assembly of France has approved a draft resolution to launch impeachment proceedings against the country’s President Emmanuel Macron.
The proposal was supported by 81 members of the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) alliance, including 72 lawmakers from the La France Insoumise party, along with the Greens and several other parliament members from the Left Democrats and Republicans.
The highest executive body of the lower house approved the first step of this procedure with a vote of 12 to 10, according to Eric Ciotti, head of the Union of Right-Wing Groups for the Republic.
The proposal was presented in accordance with Article 68 of the French Constitution, which allows for the impeachment of the president if he fails to fulfil his duties.
However, the initiative is unlikely to succeed, as the left represents the minority both in the commission and in the assembly, where impeachment requires the approval of two-thirds of parliamentarians.
Thousands of protesters took to the streets across France last Saturday in opposition to President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to appoint centre-right politician Michel Barnier as prime minister.
The call to protest came from left-wing groups, who described Macron’s decision as a “coup de force.” They accused him of undermining democracy by ignoring the results of the July snap parliamentary elections by not appointing Lucie Castets, the prime ministerial candidate from the pan-left New Popular Front (NFP) alliance.
