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Sarko said so many things I don't know what his "programme" really was. I was thinking here more that there was, here, at least one significant breach in his (almost) across-the-board political powers. If he should wish to change the constitution for whatever reason, he'll probably need to be consensual about it.
by afew (afew(a in a circle)eurotrib_dot_com) on Mon Jun 18th, 2007 at 09:59:28 AM EST
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Well, one of his high-profile "promises" was to institute something akin to the State of the Union address, in which the President would address the Parlement and give an account of the year. Since the presence of the President in the Assembly would require an amendment to the Constitution, its a issue where Hollande was already taunting Sarkozy yesterday. He asked when they would make this change, clearly hoping to get this point accross.
by desmoulins (gsb6@lycos.com) on Mon Jun 18th, 2007 at 11:57:24 AM EST
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The president can communicate to the assemblies following article 18:


Article 18
Le Président de la République communique avec les deux assemblées du Parlement par des messages qu'il fait lire et qui ne donnent lieu à aucun débat.
Hors session, le Parlement est réuni spécialement à cet effet.

I don't see a need to change the constitution to do what Nicolas Sarkozy promised here.

by Laurent GUERBY on Mon Jun 18th, 2007 at 01:46:36 PM EST
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But Sarkozy wanted to address a joint session of the Congrès in person, and receive a standing ovation, and stuff. That, he can't do.

Can the last politician to go out the revolving door please turn the lights off?
by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Mon Jun 18th, 2007 at 05:01:22 PM EST
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I think this is exactly right -- he wants to appear "presidential" in that way. In any event, it was this promise that Hollande chose to raise on tv Sunda night as one that needed a modification of the constitution, clealry hoping the inexperienced Yada wold take the bait and promise a constitutional amendment that the left can now probably block.
by desmoulins (gsb6@lycos.com) on Tue Jun 19th, 2007 at 04:11:52 PM EST
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