Macron’s cabinet approves draft laws to reduce size of French parliament

Emmanuel Macron’s cabinet has approved draft laws that would cut the size of the French parliament, introduce a measure of proportional representation into National Assembly elections and lead to a contentious early replacement of the entire Senate in 2021, the Financial Times reports.

The draft legislation, some of which would require amending the French constitution, also reintroduces the idea of national service for all the country’s young people. The changes reaffirm promises made by Mr Macron in April in an attempt to launch “Act 2” of his presidency after months of protests by gilets jaunes demonstrators that shook his government.

A statement from the French cabinet after its weekly meeting said the two draft laws were a response to public demands for more citizen participation in government. Mr Macron’s “great national debate”, held across the country for two months earlier this year, had revealed a “desire to profoundly revitalise our democracy”, the statement said.

Financial Times