Clément Viktorovitch : Emmanuel Macron, une légitimité en question
La légitimité démocratique
In this transcript, Clément Victory discusses the question of democratic legitimacy in light of recent political events in France. He examines the tension between popular protest and representative democracy, and considers the role of elections as a source of democratic legitimacy.
The Difference Between "La Foule" and "Le Peuple"
- Emmanuel Macron distinguishes between "la foule" (the crowd) and "le peuple" (the people), arguing that only the latter has democratic legitimacy.
- Victor Hugo's definition of "le peuple" emphasizes sustained popular protest and public debate, which is precisely what we are seeing with regard to pension reform in France.
- Macron's emphasis on elections as the sole source of democratic legitimacy overlooks other sources such as public opinion, civil society, unions, and street protests.
The Limits of Elections
- Pierre Rosanvallon argues that elections do not guarantee that a government will serve the common good or remain accountable to citizens.
- Elections are based on two fictions - that consent on election day implies consent for an entire term, and that the consent of a fraction of citizens implies consent from all citizens.
- Without other sources of democratic legitimacy such as public opinion or civil society, democracy becomes less democratic.
Democratic Legitimacy in Practice
- Pension reform in France faces opposition from unions, public opinion (with two-thirds against it), street protests with millions participating peacefully.
- The government does not have a majority in parliament to pass the reform, and even the motion of censure was rejected by a narrow margin.
Machiavelli's Words on Democracy
In this section, the speaker discusses the current political situation and how it relates to Machiavelli's ideas on democracy.
The Prince vs. The People
- According to the speaker, what is happening currently is not the people trying to impose their will on the government, but rather the government believing they are more enlightened than the masses.
- The speaker quotes historian Patrick Boucheron who references Machiavelli's idea that what is happening now is more like a prince trying to assert their power over the people.
Overall, this section highlights how some believe that those in power may not always act in accordance with democratic principles and may instead try to exert control over their constituents.