Lucie Castets wants to “ensure” that Emmanuel Macron “finally appoints a government”

The candidate chosen by the New Popular Front for Matignon, and the leaders of the NFP parties wrote an open letter to the French on Thursday, on the eve of their meeting at the Elysée with Emmanuel Macron.

Lucie Castets stated on franceinfo on Thursday August 22 that she wants “to make sure” that Emmanuel Macron “respects the logic of the institutions and finally appoints a government and a Prime Minister to put an end to this paralysis that the French do not understand”. The candidate of the New Popular Front (NFP) for Matignon is invited to a meeting at the Élysée by the President of the Republic, Friday at 10:30, in the company of the leaders of the NFP. She and the leaders of the four parties of the NFP co-sign an open letter intended for the French, Thursday.

franceinfo: Why did you write this open letter to the French?

Lucie Castets: It is to explain to them in what frame of mind we are going to this meeting with the President of the Republic, that is to say to tell them that we have listened to them, that we are aware that they have expressed aspirations in the ballot boxes during the last two elections, the European elections, then the legislative elections. We have heard in particular the majority rejection of the National Rally. And then we have also heard the demand for a clear political reorientation. And that is what we wish to embody. We wish to transform this momentum, this hope into actions, by arriving in government very soon.

In this letter, you list the broad outlines of the New Popular Front’s program, but isn’t it Emmanuel Macron who needs to be convinced now?

The aim is to ensure that he respects the logic of the institutions and that he finally appoints a government and a Prime Minister to be able to put an end to this paralysis that the French do not understand at the moment.

What will you say to Emmanuel Macron on Friday during the meeting at the Elysée?

We will tell him that we must learn from these last elections. We will tell him that it is not reasonable to let so much time pass. We will tell him that any other coalition would not be a recognition of the institutional balance, of the logic of our institutions. We will tell him that allowing another government to form would mean giving Marine Le Pen the possibility of taking power tomorrow and that this would be extremely dramatic.

Do you still believe in your appointment to Matignon?

Of course we still believe in it. Once again, this is the logic of the institutions and this is what the French expect. Since July 23, I have met with French women and men, associations, and social partners to inform my government project. The NFP program is solid. This letter outlines its most prominent points. We are sending it to the French to tell them that we are ready and that we are here to meet their expectations.

In this letter, you also denounce “inaction” of Emmanuel Macron who, according to you, is “serious and harmful” ? If you were appointed Prime Minister, what would your relationship with the President be?

We cannot fail to denounce this inaction in the current situation, the immobility in which France is plunged while the situation of the French people demands action. When we arrive in government, we will work in very good harmony and with respect for the institutions, with respect for the skills and prerogatives of each person. That seems obvious to me. And then, moreover, we are aware that there is only a relative majority in the Assembly and that we will have to find compromises with the other political forces.