Macron rules out leftist PM as crisis continues
French President Emmanuel Macron has stated he will not endorse a government led by the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance, which secured the most seats in last month’s legislative elections.
Macron emphasized the need for institutional stability in France, noting that the left would be unable to secure a confidence vote in Parliament.
In response to Macron’s stance, the NFP, which nominated the relatively unknown civil servant Lucie Castets as its prime ministerial candidate, has called for street protests and Macron’s impeachment.
Macron, whose centrist coalition finished second in July, announced he will initiate new consultations with party leaders on Tuesday and urged the left to collaborate with other political groups.
No single party won a majority in the elections: the NFP gained over 190 seats, Macron’s centrist Ensemble Alliance 160, and the far-right National Rally (RN) 140.
Currently, a caretaker government is in place, overseeing France, including during the Paris Olympics, which has displeased the NFP.
Macron has been engaged in discussions about forming a new government since the election and plans to continue these talks.
“My responsibility is that the country is not blocked nor weakened,” his statement on Monday said.
“The Socialist Party, the Greens, and the Communists have not yet proposed ways to cooperate with other political forces. It is now up to them to do so,” he added.
But he noticeably failed to mention one of the main elements that make up the NFP, the hard-left France Unbowed movement (LFI).
The LFI reacted angrily to the president’s words, with national coordinator Manuel Bompard describing them as an “unacceptable anti-democratic coup”.
Communist leader Fabien Roussel told BFM TV Mr Macron was going to trigger a “serious crisis in our country”, while Green leader Marine Tondelier said on X that three-quarters of the French people wanted a “political break with Macronism”.
The leftist coalition has previously refused to take part in any future consultations unless the candidacy of Ms Castets for prime minister is discussed.
However, the 37-year-old economist is unelected and seen as an unlikely presidential pick.
Both Ensemble and RN have vowed to vote down candidates from the NFP.
After meeting Mr Macron for talks on Monday, RN leaders Marine le Pen and Jordan Bardella described the NFP as a “danger” for France.
Among other names discussed in political circles are former Socialist interior minister Bernard Cazeneuve and Xavier Bertrand, who is a regional leader from the centre-right Republicans.
