If Macron resigns now as president could he stand again in 2027?

France’s political Gordian knot is no closer to being untangled this week, with the next prime minister and ruling government still unknown. 

One point though seems almost certain - that President Macron will not be stepping down from his role. 

Shortly after calling the snap legislative elections, he confirmed he had no intention of resigning – and has repeated this multiple times in recent weeks. 

Read more: French election defeat: Could Macron step down as president?

However, some commentators believe the president may step down so he has the opportunity to run for the next presidential election in 2027. 

Why are people thinking this? 

The rule that presidents in France can only serve two consecutive terms is fairly well-known. 

With the current political uncertainty in France however, some believe the steadying hand of the president – who will have been president for seven years, if he stepped down now – will calm tensions. 

In addition, he may be one of the few politicians with the credentials to beat the far-right Rassemblement National, which many predict will reach the final of the presidential election (despite their third-place finish in this month’s legislative elections). 

In both 2017 and 2022, Mr Macron defeated Marine Le Pen in the second round of the presidential elections, to be elected president. 

People are pointing to recent events in French Polynesia, where president Edouard Fritch recently stood for re-election in May 2023, despite serving since 2014. 

In this case, Mr Fritch had taken over the role from previous holder (Gaston Flosse) around a year after elections were held in 2013.

It means in 2023 He was able to run himself for a second time, despite already serving as president of the area for nine years. 

It has led people to believe that, if Mr Macron resigned now – and did not complete his full two-terms – he would be able to run again in 2027, circumventing the rules. 

Read more: Why this week should clarify (a bit) the political situation in France

Different rules for the French president 

This idea is quickly shot down, however, with a look through France’s constitution. 

“In the legal texts governing the status of Polynesia, it is stated that the president may not serve more than two consecutive five-year terms," said Anne Lavade, law professor at Sorbonne University; to 20 Minutes.

"However, in the Constitution of the Fifth Republic it is stated that no one may serve more than two consecutive terms, full stop,” she added.

If President Macron were to resign now, he would not be able to stand for re-election until 2032, just as if he served his full term until 2027.

There is the chance – however unlikely – that the president decides to run again, interpreting the constitution differently, and arguing that the wording does not prevent him from running in 2027, if he stepped down now. 

In such a case the Constitutional Council (France’s highest constitutional authority) would need to wade in and give a decision.

This group is not only the final authority on the constitution, but also must validate all candidates for the presidency, and would likely refuse Mr Macron’s candidacy. 

It seems extremely unlikely, then, that the president will be standing in 2027, regardless of if he resigns now.