So call a second election. The people will solve the impasse. Either a majority emerges or eventually the parties, exhausted by campaigning, will learn to compromise and make a coalition. Democracy will find a way.
You can’t repeatedly dissolve the chamber. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
The real problem isn’t with the constitution. It’s with the fact that the French are no longer able to create coalitions around a project. The whole political system is built around the idea that one group has a majority and does as it pleases until the next election. Talking to others is completely alien to them. And that is a real problem.
Most of the other European countries work with coalitions. It makes much more sense (I understand that this is alien to US people).
Most of the other European countries work with coalitions. It makes much more sense
Eh. Post WW2 European “coalitions” are largely just iterations of the modern Democratic Party subdivided by region and cultural touchstone. There isn’t a huge ideological gap between German Christian Democrats, Christian Socialists, Free Democrats, and Greens, for instance. The real divide is between East and West, and that’s where you get a rump AfD that grew out of the corpse of GDR Communists.
Similarly, Macron’s En Marche party is itself this coalition of French business interests that are terrified of Melanchon and conservative nationalists who don’t sit well with LePen’s National Front. He’s synthesized a position between his old boss Hollande’s champagne socialism and Sarkozy’s moderate business friendly white nationalism. But now all the half measures have dried up his base of support.
Spain’s government is similarly bifricated along lines that go back to the civil war of the 1930s. Italy’s is a hogpodge of parties that are still strictly aligned with the industrial north or rural south. You can repeat this pattern across the entire continent. Yeah, a multi-party system exists, but the coalitions are ultimately all defined by their relationships to international business. Are you the finance friendly international markets party or are you the angry proletarian outsiders?
The social policies of the parties might vary based on whether the base is liberally cosmopolitan or conservatively rural. But the root of the divide always comes down to questions of profit.
As a Greek I have some familiarity. Our politics is just as adversarial (if not more) and there is no tradition of coalitions. But when push came to shove, they figured it out, if only for a bit.
I expect that as a random US person, coming onto a native, you have at least spent some university time on European political systems to have some arguments?
the constitution doesn’t allow for another election
there’s actually never been such a situation in this constitution (yes, our constitutions are just laws, not gods given sacred scrolls, so we change them whenever they’re no longer adequate), and the current politicians cannot fathom working without a majority (although that was typical in the third and fourth republic, and in a lot of the other euro countries)
the president wants a so called “technical” government that will just do as it’s told while the chambers fight among themselves
And yes, it’s a shitshow. Shall we go back to how you’re about to elect an insane game show host along with a guy that’s had half his brain eaten by a worm?
Trump has no hope next to Harris, Biden stepping down has been the smartest move I’ve seen from Democrats since runnng Obama, people are energized, no one wants the other confused old guy.
Could you explain please why another election is not allowed in France? I though Macron dissolved the parliament early for a new election, which brought us to this situation in the first place.
So call a second election. The people will solve the impasse. Either a majority emerges or eventually the parties, exhausted by campaigning, will learn to compromise and make a coalition. Democracy will find a way.
Not possible, there’s a one year delay.
God damn it, De Gaulle really screwed you guys over, eh?
You can’t repeatedly dissolve the chamber. I don’t think that’s a bad thing.
The real problem isn’t with the constitution. It’s with the fact that the French are no longer able to create coalitions around a project. The whole political system is built around the idea that one group has a majority and does as it pleases until the next election. Talking to others is completely alien to them. And that is a real problem.
Most of the other European countries work with coalitions. It makes much more sense (I understand that this is alien to US people).
Eh. Post WW2 European “coalitions” are largely just iterations of the modern Democratic Party subdivided by region and cultural touchstone. There isn’t a huge ideological gap between German Christian Democrats, Christian Socialists, Free Democrats, and Greens, for instance. The real divide is between East and West, and that’s where you get a rump AfD that grew out of the corpse of GDR Communists.
Similarly, Macron’s En Marche party is itself this coalition of French business interests that are terrified of Melanchon and conservative nationalists who don’t sit well with LePen’s National Front. He’s synthesized a position between his old boss Hollande’s champagne socialism and Sarkozy’s moderate business friendly white nationalism. But now all the half measures have dried up his base of support.
Spain’s government is similarly bifricated along lines that go back to the civil war of the 1930s. Italy’s is a hogpodge of parties that are still strictly aligned with the industrial north or rural south. You can repeat this pattern across the entire continent. Yeah, a multi-party system exists, but the coalitions are ultimately all defined by their relationships to international business. Are you the finance friendly international markets party or are you the angry proletarian outsiders?
The social policies of the parties might vary based on whether the base is liberally cosmopolitan or conservatively rural. But the root of the divide always comes down to questions of profit.
Lol. You’re new to French politics?
As a Greek I have some familiarity. Our politics is just as adversarial (if not more) and there is no tradition of coalitions. But when push came to shove, they figured it out, if only for a bit.
While Greece was arguably mismanaged, it didn’t deserve the harshness it got. But the same political mess could well be in the future of France.
French Unity is when deGaulle has you dragged out back and shot for disagreeing.
Only in the colonies, so that was allowed!
How are your trash cans looking? Are any of them on fire yet?
I expect that as a random US person, coming onto a native, you have at least spent some university time on European political systems to have some arguments?
And yes, it’s a shitshow. Shall we go back to how you’re about to elect an insane game show host along with a guy that’s had half his brain eaten by a worm?
To be fair to us, the brain worm guy dropped out.
Hey now. There’s slightly over a 50% chance we get the coconut lady, instead.
Trump has no hope next to Harris, Biden stepping down has been the smartest move I’ve seen from Democrats since runnng Obama, people are energized, no one wants the other confused old guy.
That’s what many people hope for. But then it’s the US, so anything goes.
Could you explain please why another election is not allowed in France? I though Macron dissolved the parliament early for a new election, which brought us to this situation in the first place.
The constitution says that you can only do it once a year. Which makes sense as you have to deal with the stupid decisions you make.
But then he risks losing again.