Macron's ally sparks controversy by advocating 3rd term for French president

By Gizem Taskin Nicollet

PARIS (AA) – The former parliamentary speaker and a close ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, Richard Ferrand, ignited a political debate in France on Monday after suggesting a change to the constitution that would allow the president to serve a third term in office.

In an interview with Le Figaro on Sunday, he said that the constitutional restriction of two terms "constrains our public life by imposing rules that restrict the freedom of choice for citizens."

According to the French constitution, a president cannot serve more than two consecutive terms in office.

“The constitution, today, restricts the choice of voters, it is up to the French people to decide whether they want to entrust power to someone or not,” he added.

Many elected officials strongly criticized Ferrand's opinion, accusing him of favoring authoritarianism.

The president of the La France Insoumise party in the national assembly, Mathilde Panot, described Ferrand as “the face of the autocratic drift of Macron,” saying: “Why not restore the empire with Macron I?”

Last year, Politico reported that François Bayrou, one of Macron's top allies, said in an interview that although the French constitution currently prevents Macron from running for a third consecutive term in 2027, there is a possibility for him to seek a third mandate in 2032.

Bayrou further stated: "(Macron's) role in French politics won't come to an end after his second term."