Voices from France: A Constitutional Council Member's Perspective

Former Constitutional Council member Professor Nicole Maestracci reflects on institutional evolution:

"When I joined the Council, I was struck by the weight of responsibility. We nine individuals could invalidate laws voted by representatives of 67 million French citizens. The democratic legitimacy question haunts every decision. But I came to see our role differently—not as thwarting democratic will but as ensuring all voices are heard, especially minorities whose rights majorities might overlook.

The QPC transformed our work. Suddenly, we faced real people's real problems, not abstract legislative texts. A grandmother challenging inheritance discrimination, workers contesting pension reforms, prisoners asserting dignity rights. This concreteness changed our reasoning, made us more conscious of decisions' human impact.

The challenge is maintaining legitimacy while exercising real power. We're not elected, so our authority depends on reasoning quality, consistency, and restraint. Push too far, and political backlash threatens the institution. Stay too cautious, and we fail our constitutional duty. It's a permanent balance, requiring wisdom, courage, and humility."