President Who Knows Constitutional Reform

“Everybody should respect the Fifth Republic constitution” – The words of France’s president Nicolas Sarkozy in his speech in the town of Epinal in north-eastern France, July 12.

Though he honored the constitution, his meaning was not aimed at keeping the present constitution intact. He empathized, “A half century has passed since the constitution was drawn up. And it’s time for us to adapt France’s institutions to a new world.” His remarks were quite a departure from his characteristic forthright way of talking that has often been the target of criticism.

On July 18, he launched a 13-member committee on modernizing France`s institutions. President Sarkozy asked former Prime Minister Edouard Balladur to consider both a new relationship between president, and prime minister and a means to boosting parliamentary power in order to keep the administration in check, in his letter requesting that Balladur take the position of chairman, reported Le Monde.

The reform he wants to bring about can be summed up as “strengthening elements of the American presidential system of government.” Prime ministers have so far been accountable to the parliament, but President Sarkozy wants presidents to be answerable to the parliament. The committee is discussing a new system where appointment of high-ranking officials in the administration should get approval from the parliament and the administration should not enact law without a parliamentary vote.

He criticized the current French system of government, which divides power between prime minister and president, saying, “The Prime Minister takes all the responsibilities while the president makes all the decisions behind the scenes, which is hypocritical.” The parliamentary system of government, which was once praised as an advanced system in Korea, is now on the brink of demise in its very birthplace.

It is expected that the reform measures will include restriction of presidential power on the handing down of pardons. President Sarkozy didn’t grant customary pardons on the anniversary of the French Revolution (July 14), insisting that it was reminiscent of those made by the Emperor and it didn’t fit the spirits of execution of punishment in a democratic society. His stance is in contrast to that of President Roh who recently took issue with presidential power on granting special pardons though he has wielded such power throughout his tenure.

Sarkozy’s “reform drive” is far from being heavy-handed. He appointed committee members regardless of political affiliations. Though he is called “Super Sarkozy” for making decisions on everything by himself, he delegated the responsibility of reforming the constitution to experts.

In particular, he took the pain to invite former culture minister and education minister Jack Lang, a Socialist bigwig, to the committee. The longest-serving minister under the Francois Mitterrand administration accepted the president`s invitation after quitting the Socialists` leadership council, which triggered trouble within the Socialist Party.

pisong@donga.com