Refractory Gauls, or the French politics thread

[Sheilbh]

Also, if we had the Westminster system, would Queen Brynda I still have actual power, or be just like King Charles?

Yeah I'm not sure about the Westminster system as a model. I think it's adaptable enough.

Although obvs there are many parliamentary models with presidents. I personally am a big fan of Ireland's system - but also admire Germany's.  I've read a few things and would love to read something in proper detail about the Italian constitution - because Italian lawyers describe it (as they obviously would) as the "most elegant" constitution in the world But also it's explicitly anti-fascist (and the symbolic elements are under attack from Meloni), but also, one of the only (possibly the only) country in Europe that, like the US, has two equal legislative chambers. I'd love to properly understand how it works.

I'm not so sure about the prestige of the head of state being the problem - though I take Valmy's point. I think the bigger benefits of a parliamentary system is that it has a clear, formal, constitutional role for opposition which I actually think is really important. But also that it normally, in one way or other, requires a government to be able to pass legislation and, at the very least, pass a budget every year - I think the ability generally for Congress to just absolute abdicate their responsibilities (and with it see the executive grow in power) is a problem.

[crazy canuck]

No, if you had a Parliamentary system you would not be stuck with a President for four years, you would not have government shutdowns, etc etc etc.

[Tonitrus]

Just a PM for five years?

Sure, in theory MAGA backbenchers could bring down the PM sooner than that...but does any of us really believe that Mirror-universe PM Trump would not have total control over his parliamentary party?

And we wouldn't have shutdowns, but that is because the opposition would be truly and completely powerless.

How would a Trump/MAGA in the UK/Canada, lacking in any ethics or restraint, not be able to wreck the corresponding democratic system any differently than is happening now?