The current political crisis in France has brought back words like “proportional,” “coalition,” and “social democracy” into the national vocabulary. This crisis has also highlighted the country’s unique political system compared to its neighboring liberal democracies. The decision to dissolve the National Assembly without consultation has raised eyebrows among scholars and neighbors, showcasing France’s history of authoritarian democracy and presidential powers.
Calls for reforms to align France with its neighbors include extending proportional representation, reversing the legislative and presidential calendar, and rebalancing powers between the president, prime minister, and Parliament.
Sly reasoning
Proposed changes to the voting system for the presidential election aim to promote compromise among voters, a concept previously foreign to French politics.
The discussion around these reforms suggests a shift towards a more collaborative political landscape, challenging traditional French political norms.