Politics · France · 2 hrs ago
Ferrand says Le Pen cannot use Article 11 to revise France’s Constitution
Marine Le Pen says she would seek constitutional changes by referendum if elected president of France in 2027.
Her proposed changes include ending birthright citizenship and giving French nationals priority for some benefits.
Constitutional Council president Richard Ferrand says Article 11 cannot be used to make those changes.
He says Article 89 is the only route to amend the Constitution, requiring approval in identical terms by both houses of Parliament before a referendum or a three-fifths vote in a joint session.
The National Rally hopes to win a majority in the National Assembly, but the Senate is controlled by the right and centre, which could block its plans.
National Rally figures have criticised Ferrand, arguing that his comments breach the neutrality expected of his office; the sources do not say what happens next.
Constitutional Council president Richard Ferrand said Marine Le Pen cannot use Article 11 to revise France’s Constitution.
He said Article 89 is the only route for constitutional changes.
Le Pen has said she would hold a national referendum if elected president to pursue measures including national preference and ending birthright citizenship.
The National Rally argues Article 11 can be used and cited Charles de Gaulle’s 1962 referendum as a precedent.
National Rally figures accused Ferrand of political involvement and questioned his constitutional expertise.
- Who
- Richard Ferrand, president of the Constitutional Council, and Marine Le Pen and the National Rally.
- What
- Ferrand said Article 11 cannot be used to revise the Constitution. The National Rally rejects his position.
- When
- October 13, 2026.
- Where
- France.
- Why
- Le Pen says she would use a referendum to pursue policy changes, including national preference and ending birthright citizenship.
Richard Ferrand
National Rally
Constitutional route
Richard Ferrand
Article 89 is the only way to revise the Constitution.
National Rally
Article 11 can be used to hold a referendum to change the Constitution.
1962 precedent
Richard Ferrand
The Constitutional Council had indicated that de Gaulle’s 1962 referendum was not constitutional.
National Rally
The National Rally cites de Gaulle’s 1962 referendum on electing the president by universal suffrage.
Ferrand’s comments
Richard Ferrand
Ferrand says the law does not allow constitutional reform through Article 11.
National Rally
National Rally figures accuse Ferrand of abandoning neutrality and say he should not decide whether the referendum takes place.
Charles de Gaulle held a referendum on electing the president by universal suffrage.
The Constitutional Council declared itself competent to review the legality of a decree calling a referendum and the constitutionality of the accompanying text.
Richard Ferrand was appointed president of the Constitutional Council.
Ferrand rejected the use of Article 11 to revise the Constitution, prompting criticism from National Rally figures.
- Constitutional Council president
- Richard Ferrand
- Constitutional revision route cited by Ferrand
- Article 89
- Referendum route proposed by the National Rally
- Article 11
- National Rally vice-president
- Louis Aliot
- National Rally deputy quoted
- Matthias Renault, Somme constituency
- Le Pen’s proposed policy
- National preference and ending birthright citizenship
What people are saying
Today, wanting to reform the Constitution through Article 11 does not exist.
Article 89 is the only way to reform the Constitution.
Not everyone is de Gaulle.
He should maintain a minimum of neutrality in his role and not take political positions.
Posts on X
Louis Aliot revient sur les propos de Richard Ferrand dans #LaGrandeInterview «Je ne crois pas à la science constitutionnelle de Richard Ferrand» Toute l'info est à retrouver sur https://t.co/NVs1Rf6rXd
Sources
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