Before the French election: Le Pen questions Macron's role as commander-in-chief of the army
It is an honorary title because the Prime Minister is in charge of the finances, she emphasized. She believes that her party Rassemblement National (RN) will achieve an absolute majority in the upcoming parliamentary election, and RN party leader Jordan Bardella will then become Prime Minister. "Jordan Bardella will not clash with the President, but there are red lines. The President cannot send soldiers to Ukraine without his consent," Le Pen explained.
Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu responded to this by publishing the corresponding constitutional article and a quote from a speech by the former President Charles de Gaulle in the online service X. "According to the Constitution, the President is the guarantor of the independence and integrity of the country as well as of the treaties that bind it. In short, he is responsible for France," Lecornu quoted a speech by de Gaulle from 1962.
"To carry out this highest responsibility, the head of state needs appropriate means. The Constitution provides them," de Gaulle added. The Defense Minister commented on this with the words: "The Constitution is not an honorary position."
The politician close to President Emmanuel Macron, François Bayrou, accused Le Pen of constitutional hostility in turn. "If you claim that it's just a nice title, then you are seriously questioning the Constitution," he said to Europe 1 radio on Thursday.
The election to the National Assembly has not only national significance but also consequences for Europe and beyond, Bayrou said. "Putin is already popping the champagne corks," he said in reference to the long-standing proximity of the RN to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Le Pen confirmed her position later in the online service X with more diplomatic words: "Without questioning the President's authority to send soldiers abroad, the Prime Minister can express his opposition through budget control," she explained.
She reminded that the socialist Prime Minister Lionel Jospin had spoken out against the sending of French soldiers in 1999, which the conservative President Jacques Chirac had planned.
Constitutional lawyers point out that the role distribution regarding defense in the French Constitution is not clear-cut. "That's one of the points where it's the most unclear," said the expert Bertrand Mathieu. "There is no clear demarcation," he added. This issue has not played a role so far because there have been no major disagreements.
According to the assessment of constitutional lawyer Mathieu Carpentier, there could be tensions regarding the question of sending French military trainers to Ukraine. Such a decision would ultimately have to be made by both - the President and the Prime Minister. "The risk of a political crisis is quite high and could harm our strategic interests," he said.
The Prime Minister, as per the honorary title, is responsible for the country's finances, emphasised the speaker. Emmanuel Macron's party believes in achieving an absolute majority, leading to Jordan Bardella becoming Prime Minister. Le Pen stated that Bardella won't clash with the President, but red lines exist, such as sending troops to Ukraine without consent.
Lecornu referenced Charles de Gaulle's speech, highlighting the President's role as the country's guarantor and responsible for France's independence and treaties. To fulfill this highest responsibility, the President needs appropriate means, de Gaulle added.
Lecornu countered Bayrou's claims of constitutional hostility by stating that the Constitution is not an honorary position. Bayrou accused Le Pen of questioning the Constitution if she considered it an honorary title.
The election's consequences extend beyond France, Bayrou noted, warning that Putin is celebrating the RN's proximity to him. Le Pen, in response, clarified that the President can send soldiers abroad, but the Prime Minister can express opposition through budget control.
Le Pen made a historical reference, mentioning how Prime Minister Lionel Jospin opposed the sending of troops in 1999. Constitutional lawyers hinted at the unclear role distribution regarding defense in the French Constitution.
There's no clear demarcation in the distribution of roles regarding defense, according to expert Bertrand Mathieu. This issue has not played a significant role due to the lack of major disagreements so far. However, Mathieu Carpentier suggests potential tensions could arise regarding the question of French military trainers' deployment to Ukraine.
Such a decision would necessitate the involvement of both the President and the Prime Minister, Carpentier said. He further warned that this issue could potentially lead to a political crisis and harm strategic interests.
