Why Le Pen's plan for a constitutional referendum would be 'a coup d'état in form and content'
- Posted on August 18, 2026
- By Le Monde
- 1 Views
- 1 min read
In brief
Marine Le Pen's constitutional referendum strategy represents a fundamental threat to France's democratic framework. Legal experts warn that her proposal to institutionalize far-right ideology through constitutional amendments would constitute both procedural and substantive violations of democratic principles. This analysis examines how such reforms could reshape France's governmental structure and undermine established constitutional protections while exploring the broader implications for European democracy.
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Why Le Pen's plan for a constitutional referendum would be 'a coup d'état in form and content'
If she were to win, far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen has pledged to call a referendum to revise the Constitution and enshrine the far right's core principles in it. According to a member of the highest administrative court, this would be 'a double coup d'état, both in form and content.'
