PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday put responsibility on parliament to negotiate a broad coalition reflecting France’s “republican institutions” to break the political deadlock following an inconclusive snap election.
In a message published in French regional newspapers, Macron acknowledged the inconclusive results of the election, stating, “Nobody won.” He called upon parties that uphold “republican institutions, the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, a European orientation, and the defense of France’s independence” to participate in sincere and fair negotiations to establish a robust and pluralist majority.
Macron’s call for a coalition appeared to exclude Marine Le Pen’s far-right RN party and indirectly marginalized Jean-Luc Melenchon’s France Unbowed (LFI) and the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance on the far-left, which unexpectedly secured the most seats in the National Assembly.
The election, intended by Macron to clarify France’s political landscape, resulted instead in a hung parliament. Centrists aligned with Macron are now seeking alliances with the right-wing to counterbalance the growing influence of the NFP.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s government will continue leading as France prepares for the upcoming Olympics, despite his centrist group losing ground in the election. The search for Attal’s successor is now underway amidst political maneuvering.
The leftist bloc, with around 190 seats, believes it has the mandate to propose a new prime minister. However, Macron’s centrist camp, holding approximately 160 seats, is reluctant to support a government that includes figures from the hard-left.
Internal divisions within Macron’s Renaissance party have surfaced, with some advocating for a broad coalition encompassing center-left to right-wing forces, while others prefer alignment strictly with conservatives.
Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin, also re-elected, expressed openness to supporting a “right-wing prime minister”.
Former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, a Macron ally, called for a centrist-conservative pact to ensure effective governance for at least a year.
Francois Bayrou, another centrist figure, urged Macron to appoint a prime minister capable of bridging divides across parliament.
The NFP alliance, encompassing Greens, Socialists, Communists, and LFI, intends to nominate a prime ministerial candidate by the end of the week, amidst their collective effort to assert influence.
Marine Le Pen of the RN emphasized her party’s increased presence in the National Assembly.
On the left, Raphael Glucksmann emphasized the importance of parliamentary democracy and the need for dialogue across ideological lines to achieve consensus.
