Still no prime minister a month and a half after the legislative elections in France: President Emmanuel Macron ruled out the option of a left-wing government on Monday and announced new consultations “with party leaders” and “personalities”.
At the end of a first series of meetings since Friday with the political parties, Mr Macron ruled out the option of a government “based solely on the programme and the parties” of the New Popular Front (NFP).
Such an executive “would be immediately censored by all the other groups represented in the National Assembly” and “the institutional stability of our country therefore requires that this option not be retained”, the presidency wrote in a press release.
Mr Macron urged socialists, environmentalists and communists to “cooperate with other political forces”, without naming La France insoumise (LFI, radical left) with which the latter formed the left-wing alliance of the NFP, which came out on top in the legislative elections but without an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
A way of asking them to dissociate themselves from LFI. Immediately, the rebellious leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon judged on X that the president had just “created a situation of exceptional gravity”.
“The popular and political response must be swift and firm” and a “motion of impeachment” of Mr. Macron “will be tabled” in the Assembly, he added.
Another leader of the Insoumis, Manuel Bompard, denounced on the BFMTV channel “a completely unacceptable anti-democratic coup de force which is being carried out on the basis of an argument which makes no sense”, assuring that they will not “participate in a new attempt at consultation”.
No more than the communists, their leader Fabien Roussel calling for “a large popular mobilization” in “the coming days”.
The French president did, however, announce on Monday evening “a new cycle” of discussions starting on Tuesday to find a prime minister, with party leaders and “personalities distinguished by their experience of service to the State and the Republic.”
“My responsibility is that the country is neither blocked nor weakened,” added Mr. Macron.
Threats of censorship
How long will these extensions last? The appointment of a prime minister is “not excluded” this week, but not guaranteed either, an executive advisor now says.
The schedule is tight: Emmanuel Macron, who has several diplomatic meetings this week, must attend the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games on Wednesday, before flying out for a visit to Serbia on Thursday and Friday.
The hypothesis of a left-wing government was ruled out due to threats of censorship from other political parties.
Representatives of the presidential camp, the right and the extreme right, after repeating for weeks that they did not want rebellious ministers, now admit that it is the very program of the NFP that they reject.
This includes, in particular, an increase in the minimum wage, new taxes for the richest and, above all, a return to pension reform, the flagship text of Macron’s second five-year term.
The alternative hypothesis of a centre-right government, favoured by the president, also faces numerous obstacles and remains dependent on the abstention of far-right deputies in the Assembly.
A blockage that has lasted while the resigning Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, has been managing current affairs for 41 days already, something never seen before in France since the post-war period.
And that the executive will have to present a budget before the 1ster October and have it voted on before the end of the year.