French President Emmanuel Macron is consulting with the heads of French parliamentary parties and groups to decide on the appointment of a new prime minister who can gain broad support in parliament, the Jerusalem Post reported today, August 31.
The move came in response to recent parliamentary elections that resulted in a fragmented political landscape, with no party or alliance winning an outright majority in 289 of the 577 seats. Neither the leftist New Popular Front, the Republicans, nor the National Rally Marina Le Pen failed to achieve a dominant position. The Juntos bloc, led by Macron, also failed to obtain a clear majority. Through these consultations, Macron aims to create the largest possible majority, ensuring the appointment of a prime minister capable of governing the country without constant disruption.
The New Popular Front has the majority of seats in parliament, but lacks internal cohesion as the Socialists and Independent France often clash over various issues. The Front nominated a candidate she looked chasteParisian municipal official, but Macron opposes her appointment. In a controversial move, officials in the French parliament raised the possibility of using Article 68 of the Constitution to remove President Macron without consulting his allies, sparking further controversy.
Amid these tensions, two new potential candidates for prime minister have emerged: Bernardo Cazeneuve AND Xavier BertrandCazeneuve, a respected figure in socialist circles and among some republicans, served as prime minister and interior minister under the former president. François Hollande. He is seen as a unifying figure against France without borders. Bertrand, a successful minister of the former president Nicolas Sarkozy.
The third unexpected candidate is Karim BouamranMayor of Saint Denis. Bouamran, a Moroccan by birth and self-described secular socialist, rose to prominence after his suburb successfully hosted the Olympic Games. Dubbed the “Obama of the Seine” by the German newspaper Die Welt, Boumran also attracted the attention of magazines Le Figaro and Le Monde, which highlighted his opposition to the far-left party La France Insoumise (Insubordinate France). Despite his recent rise to prominence, he remains relatively unknown on the national stage. As one French diplomat noted:
“This is a time of uncertainty. Macron often likes to surprise everyone with unexpected names,” the appointment recalls. Jean Castex for the post of Prime Minister.
Macron is said to be carefully weighing his options and consulting widely before making a decision, especially as budget discussions and the October 1 vote approach.
