PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron dismissed the idea of appointing a left-wing government on Monday, arguing that it would jeopardize the country’s “institutional stability.”
Following July’s elections, which left a divided parliament with the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance holding the most seats but lacking a governing majority, Macron has been negotiating for a new prime minister. However, he rejected left-wing demands for governance after discussions with far-right leader Marine Le Pen and other political figures.
While there were indications that Macron might announce a new prime minister by Tuesday, he stated that he would instead initiate another round of talks and urged parties to cooperate. “My responsibility is to ensure the country is neither blocked nor weakened,” Macron said.
The July election resulted in a fragmented National Assembly: the NFP holds over 190 seats, Macron’s centrist alliance has around 160, and Le Pen’s National Rally controls 140. The NFP, particularly the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), has sought to form a government, but centrist and right-wing parties have pledged to oppose this in any confidence vote.
Macron argued that a left-wing government would face immediate rejection from other parliamentary groups, thus threatening institutional stability. He emphasized his intention to engage with experienced political figures and encouraged cooperation among socialists, ecologists, and communists.
The LFI reacted strongly, with coordinator Manuel Bompard denouncing Macron’s stance as an “unacceptable anti-democratic coup,” and LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon calling for a strong public and political response.
Macron has appointed Gabriel Attal as caretaker government leader, aiming to find a candidate with sufficient support to avoid a confidence vote. With a deadline to present the 2025 budget approaching, the pressure is mounting.
The leftist parties had proposed 37-year-old economist and civil servant Lucie Castets as their prime ministerial candidate. Despite this, Macron and centre-right parties remain opposed. Macron has labeled the LFI as “extreme,” and centre-right parties have highlighted the NFP’s expansive spending plans amidst France’s record budget deficit and debt issues. Attal described the LFI’s proposal as an “attempted coup” and suggested that an NFP government would inevitably fail a confidence vote.
