Emmanuel Macron spoke to parliamentarians gathered in Congress in 2017 following his election, then in 2018 to outline the main points of future projects.
He had even promised to return every year to the Congress at Versailles.
Before abandoning this commitment.
But this time, there will be no head of state in Versailles, as the Élysée confirmed this Thursday to Le Parisien - Today in France.
The 925 parliamentarians will meet among themselves on Monday March 4 in the afternoon.
“A revision of the Constitution is governed by article 89 of our fundamental text, which does not provide for the presence of the head of state.
Conversely, this can come, outside of any revision, if it is within the framework of article 18”, recalls the former parliamentary advisor to François Hollande Bernard Rullier.
“The President of the Republic cannot come because it is a normative congress, not a declarative one”
This last article stipulates that the “President of the Republic may speak before the Parliament assembled for this purpose in Congress”.
“His declaration may give rise, outside his presence, to a debate which is not the subject of any vote.”
This is the scenario adopted in 2017 and 2018. “The President of the Republic cannot come because it is a normative congress, not a declarative one,” the government reminds us.
There remains one last scenario, possible on paper, but never yet tested.
“The presence of the president is prohibited during constitutional review sessions.
On the other hand, nothing prevents him from considering a session in two parts, where he would first address the parliamentarians meeting in Congress.
Before leaving during a session suspension.
Then, the constitutional revision itself would begin,” imagines constitutionalist Didier Maus.
A scenario not retained at this stage.
On the other hand, as tradition dictates, it is Prime Minister Gabriel Attal who should take the floor to present the constitutional revision.
The constitutional amendment providing for the inclusion of abortion in the Constitution will be adopted if three fifths of parliamentarians validate it.
A bar which should not pose a problem, to the extent that both the Senate and the Assembly have largely adopted the revision bill.