Opinion: France's Pro-Democracy Camp Must Make the Rule of Law Central to 2027 Campaign, Essay Argues

An opinion piece published by the French newspaper Le Monde argues that defenders of France's democratic institutions should make the rule of law a central theme of the 2027 presidential campaign, presenting it as a safeguard against what the author describes as a drift toward authoritarian rule.

The commentary responds to campaign proposals from parts of the far right and sections of the mainstream right calling for a referendum to reform the French constitution, including provisions the piece characterizes as sovereigntist and anti-immigration. According to the essay, such proposals amount to the threat of what it calls a "real constitutional coup."

The rule of law as a campaign issue

The essay contends that France's pro-democracy political forces have so far failed to adequately communicate the stakes of the rule-of-law debate to voters, and argues they should instead frame it clearly as a defense against concentrated, unchecked political power.

Debates over constitutional reform, immigration policy, and the balance of power between courts, parliament, and the executive have featured prominently in French political discourse ahead of the 2027 election, with rival camps offering sharply different visions of how the country's institutions should function.

As an opinion contribution, the piece reflects the views of its author rather than Le Monde's own editorial position, and forms part of a broader public debate in France over the direction of the country's democratic institutions ahead of the vote.