Posted on 07/16/2008 8:55:11 PM PDT by bruinbirdman
President Nicolas Sarkozy of France has been accused of wanting to turn the country into a "monocracy" as he scrambles to win last-minute backing for a constitutional reform bill, which he argues will strengthen parliament.
The opposition Socialist party is calling for a No vote on the bill, which has split the ruling UMP party, and it is uncertain whether Mr Sarkozy can secure the required three-fifths majority in the upper and lower houses of parliament to push it through.
Its rejection would be a major blow for the president.
"I hope that those Socialists who are sincere will understand that it would be ridiculous to vote against a reform they have been dreaming about for years without ever enacting it," Mr Sarkozy said in an interview with Le Monde newspaper.
~snip~
Presidents would no longer be able to run for a third term, some presidential appointments would need approval by parliamentary commissions, and parliament would be allowed to set half of its own agenda, instead of the government dictating the entire running order.
Among the sweeping changes, Socialists staunchly oppose one that would allow the President to address parliament directly, in a French-style state of the union address. Currently he cannot enter the National Assembly.
"And what happens to the prime minister in that case, all small on his bench next to his silent ministers?" asked Mr Badinter.
The opposition also insists the bill must reform the voting system for the Senate, whose convoluted collegiate system favours the Right, which has had a majority there since 1958. Mr Sarkozy proposed only minor changes.
But with the vote expected to go to the wire – a matter of four people according to one right-winger – the President announced a series of last-minute sweeteners yesterday.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
Gallic ping.
Clearly, socialists world-wide redefine terms to their convenience, but what the devil is a ''monocracy'', please?
Reading the whole article. How is he turning France into a monocracy? Looks like he is increasing the parliament’s power.
Monocracy is the rule of one or self rule. Derives from Autocracy. Being autocratic. Ruling without being limited by Rule of Law or Constitution.
oh great France is going to be a bastion of freedom and conservativism, and we are going to be a police state oligarchy of socialist.
Rather like the wet dream of the assorted anti-American bozos in the Regress, with Osamabama or Hitlery as their ''front man'', eh?
Again, many thanks, and FReegards!
Sarkozy beat the pants off the Socialist Party to become President. They are grasping at propaganda straws here, of course.
yitbos
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