French President Emmanuel Macron is working towards forming the broadest and most stable majority possible by holding meetings with key leaders of the country’s main political parties. This comes six weeks after the legislative elections, with Macron aiming to name a future government and prime minister. The left-wing New Popular Front, which won the most seats but fell short of an absolute majority, began consultations at the Elysée presidential palace. Macron is seeking compromises in the absence of a clear majority in the National Assembly. The president will also meet with centrist, conservative, and far-right party leaders in the coming days before appointing a new prime minister on Tuesday.
Macron’s goal is to engage in fair and sincere dialogue to find solutions that are beneficial for the country. With the NFP falling short of an absolute majority by one hundred seats, Macron is exploring possibilities of creating an alternative majority by working with some right and moderate socialist parties. The right and far-right parties have threatened to bring down a left-wing government if hard-left ministers are appointed. The NFP coalition is ready to govern even without an absolute majority, criticizing Macron’s perceived inaction as serious and dangerous. Internal conflicts within the NFP, particularly between France Unbowed and other parties, are complicating matters.
The left-wing NFP coalition has proposed Lucie Castets as their candidate for prime minister. Castets, a civil servant and economist, is relatively unknown to the general public and has never held a mandate. Despite this, she has garnered some positive opinions but remains largely unknown to a significant portion of the population. Far-right MEP Jordan Bardella and former right-wing minister Xavier Bertrand are also popular choices for the position of prime minister. Outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is believed to be the best-suited candidate to continue leading the country’s government, according to a recent poll.
Macron’s refusal to appoint Lucie Castets as prime minister has led to threats of impeachment procedures from the France Unbowed party led by Jean-Luc Mélénchon. This move has been criticized by other parties within the NFP coalition, such as the Socialist Party and the Greens. Macron’s consultations with key political leaders aim to find a solution that will result in a stable government. All parties involved are looking to reach compromises and move towards a united front, despite differing strategies and internal bickering within the NFP. Macron’s decision on the appointment of a new prime minister is expected on Tuesday following the conclusion of consultations with party leaders.
