The lasting lack of direct universal suffrage for French metropolitan areas : a shackle that must be rapidly cancelled or a great asset that should be absolutely protected ? (In French)

It is a long time since the problem of the lack of direct universal suffrage for the French metropolitan areas with own taxes (MAOT) has been pointed out. Nevertheless, nothing has ever been done to change this current situation, in spite of a wide agreement in favor of direct universal suffrage for French MAOT. This paper intends to understand the reasons of such a paradox. As a starting point, the arguments in favor of more democracy for MAOT, thanks to direct elections, have been underlined. Then, as these arguments are supposed to be relevant, the alternative “goods reasons” contended by national and local elected actors (mayors, senators, …), implicitly claiming for status quo, have been detailed: the will to preserve the fragile existence of MAOT, to preserve municipal boundaries as the best place for local democracy, as well as to save municipal mandates and to evade the law about plurality of mandates