Can ‘Macronism’ survive its founder? From supposed centrism to the centrality of power: an anatomy of institutional continuity
Maître Virginie de Araújo-Recchia — Attorney (Paris Bar), Public Policy Analyst (Member of Sovereignty)
17 September 2026 — Analysis written for Sovereignty
Abstract
President Emmanuel Macron will not be able to stand for re-election in the 2027 presidential election. This has raised a question in the public debate: who will succeed him? This is not the only question. This study argues that ‘Macronism’ has never constituted centrism in the doctrinal sense of the term: none of the four criteria of historical centrism (representative democracy, parliamentary compromise, European integration, and a balance between economic freedom and social protection) is met by the practices observed since 2017. It was a centrality of power – that is, a position from which to govern – rather than a transmissible doctrine. Whilst the so-called ‘central’ bloc is disintegrating electorally, that centrality is shifting towards the institutions: appointments to supervisory bodies for terms running until 2032 and 2034, laws enacted and emergency measures now enshrined in positive law, and European commitments made beyond the national electoral calendar. Finally, the study examines what the Constitution actually permits in the event of a conflict, the possibility of a return in 2032 and that of a presidency of the European Council, concluding that the relevant timeframe is not the five-year term that is coming to an end but the decade that is beginning.
The analyses published here reflect the author’s views only and do not constitute legal advice.
Read the full analysis (PDF, 17 pages) :
Lien vers la page française : https://dar-avocats.com/2026/09/17/apres-macron-ce-qui-survivra-a-2027/
