Le Pen's constitutional reform plan sparks legal controversy in France

Marine Le Pen's proposal to amend the French Constitution via popular referendum if she wins the 2027 election has drawn strong opposition from 110 constitutional law scholars. Led by Julien Bonnet, these experts warn that using Article 11 to bypass standard legislative procedures—as suggested by the National Rally candidate—would undermine the safeguards established in Article 89, which requires parliamentary approval for constitutional revisions. The academics argue that bypassing both chambers of Parliament threatens the institutional balance of the Fifth Republic and the separation of powers. While Le Pen defends her approach by citing the democratic mandate and the 1962 precedent of Charles de Gaulle, experts emphasize that the Constitutional Council may ultimately intervene to ensure legal compliance, regardless of public opinion.