France’s limits on the length of presidential terms are “disastrous bullshit”, French President Emmanuel Macron is reported to have said.
The leader made the statement during a closed-door meeting with his political opposition, during which the topic of how long a president can serve arose.
Multiple sources have now confirmed that Macron lashed out at the concept of term limits, which are set to prevent him from seeking re-election in 2027.
“Not being able to be re-elected is disastrous bullshit,” the French president lamented.
Opposition politicians have hit back, with leftist leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon accusing him of having “cracked”, while Conservative representative Nicolas Dupont-Aignan accused him of dreaming “of being a monarch”.
An unnamed source within Macron’s own government attempted to pour cold water on the furore, suggesting that the statement from Macron might have been in jest.
“He may have made a joke on this subject,” the source said.
The US economist who was due to become the European Commission’s chief competition tsar has lashed out at France after being forced to abandon the role. https://t.co/kVs8OmjFjc
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) August 30, 2023
It is far from the first time Macron’s mouth has got him into hot water, having slammed people who were not vaccinated against COVID-19 during an interview last year.
“I really want to piss them off,” he said, using the swear word “emmerder” in his vow to make the life of those not vaccinated as difficult as possible.
Macron’s rude words were not the lowest point of the latest meeting, with the content of the discussions leaving many of the country’s progressives angry.
While right-wing politicians who attended the 12-hour gathering expressed a limited level of satisfaction, the country’s Left appeared horrified, describing it as a waste of time.
“Spending 12 hours to have no serious response, no measure, no concrete announcement, when you know the difficulties facing the country today, I find it quite grotesque,” said Manuel Bompard, a member of the left-wing La France Insoumise.
Those within the Macron administration appeared rather pleased with the discussions, with one source claiming those in attendance have already agreed to take part in a second closed-door meeting in the first week of September.
“Everyone has already agreed to meet again on the same format, under the same conditions, for another working session,” the anonymous source claimed.
The left-wing politician has now demanded that France’s interior minister Gerald Darmanin resign his position. https://t.co/m5iuqr06tZ
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) July 29, 2023
