French President Emmanuel Macron ruled out on Monday appointing a prime minister from the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) coalition, despite it being the force that won the most seats in the last legislative elections, after “confirming” that it would not survive motions of censure from other groups.
“The President of the Republic has confirmed that a government based solely on the program and parties proposed by the largest alliance of deputies, the New Popular Front, would be immediately censored by all other groups represented in the National Assembly,” the Elysée reported in a statement, following the round of consultations between Macron and the political blocs.
The presidency affirmed that “the institutional stability” of France “advises not to adopt this option” and announced that it would open “tomorrow” a new cycle of dialogue with “party leaders and personalities who stand out for their experience in the political field.” service of the State”.
The message specifies that the NFP, whose representatives were the first to be received last Friday with the candidate they are proposing to head the government, Lucie Castets, “did not propose any avenues of cooperation with other political forces.”
“It is their responsibility to do so,” the Elysée stressed regarding the alliance made up of the Socialist Party (PS), the communists, the ecologists and the more radical La Francia Insumisa (LFI).
The sources specify that other parties, such as the blocs that make up Macronism, have “outlined possible avenues for coalition and joint work between different political sensibilities.” These parties “are open to supporting a government led by a personality who does not come from their ranks,” the presidency affirmed.
In this complicated context, Macron called on “all political leaders to rise to the occasion by demonstrating a spirit of responsibility.” “My responsibility is to ensure that the country is not blocked or weakened. The political parties in power must not forget the exceptional circumstances of the election of their deputies in the second round of the legislative elections. This vote obliges you,” the French president said in the message.
Even before the announcement of the presidency, the NFP had warned in a statement that it would only meet Macron again to discuss the details of a cohabitation government led by Castets.
But the 193 seats held by the NFP and its partners are far from the absolute majority of 289 that would allow the coalition to govern alone, without the threat of a motion of censure overthrowing the corresponding executive.
