“Emmanuel Macron asked us if we were ready to participate in this government of national unity”, MP Fabien Roussel said on franceinfo on Tuesday, June 21, after his meeting at the Elysee Palace with the Head of State. The President of the Republic is currently studying several options to find a solution after the results of the legislative elections which did not allow him to obtain an absolute majority in the Assembly.
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What is a government of national unity?
Emmanuel Macron must broaden his political base in order to be able to govern. A government of national unity would allow him to develop a broad coalition with many partisan sensitivities to find a political compromise. Even if some governments have already practiced openness with ministers from different political sides, such as Michel Rocard in 1988 or François Fillon in 2012, a real national union was never put in place under the Fifth Republic.
We have to go back to 1944 and the provisional government to find any trace of such an initiative. In the very different context of the post-war period, a government presided over by Charles de Gaulle brought together socialist, communist, Christian-democratic and right-wing ministers around the table. “We Communists have already participated in national unity governments. It was in 1945 with de Gaulle, but it was high level! We created Social Security, which still exists”recalls Fabien Roussel, interviewed on franceinfo.
Who would participate?
To be able to speak of national unity, Emmanuel Macron will have to recruit on the left as on the right. “If Macron wants to regain control politically, he will have no choice but to appoint a government of national unity from Valérie Rabault to Robert Ménard”explained an adviser to the executive in The Parisian. By submitting the idea to the communist Fabien Roussel, the President of the Republic seems ready to go a little further.
There remains the question of the National Rally. Since 2017, Emmanuel Macron has wanted to make the RN his main opponent, but in recent days, the tone seems to have changed slightly. Several majority executives, such as the Minister of Justice Eric Dupond-Moretti, felt that it would be possible to work in the coming five-year term with the deputies of the RN party.
Marine Le Pen also assures that Emmanuel Macron has discussed a government of national unity with her. For his part, Louis Aliot, vice-president of the RN, suggested on France Inter to Emmanuel Macron “a government of national unity to prepare for major deadlines in terms of purchasing power, security or pensions”.
Why is it complicated?
Big problem, many politicians have already declined the proposal. “I immediately said to the president: ‘There is such a climate of mistrust against you that it is not possible.’ It wouldn’t be understood”explained Fabien Roussel on franceinfo. “If Emmanuel Macron decides to make us [une telle] proposal, we will tell him clearly that it cannot be a prospect for us: we fought his policy, we are going to fight it again, we are not going to govern with him”added the “rebellious” deputy Manuel Bompard.
“We campaigned by proposing an alternative to the policy of Emmanuel Macron. If we arrived today by proposing small arrangements, we would not respect the word of those who elected us.”
Manuel Bompard, LFI deputy for Bouches-du-Rhôneon franceinfo
On the right, Christian Jacob, the boss of the Les Républicains party, repeats that he sees himself in the opposition. “We will never be in the blocking of institutions, but there is no question of entering into a logic of coalition pact, participation or anything of this nature”, he assured after his meeting with Emmanuel Macron. Marine Le Pen also declined the proposal. “I don’t think the situation warrants it.” But François Bayrou, who wishes “get as close as possible to national unity”believes that positions can change quickly.
“I think there are a lot of wills available, which for the moment are expressed little because at the end of the electoral sequence, we are in systematic confrontations, boxing fights, that’s how it is. ”
François Bayrou, president of the Modemafter his meeting with Emmanuel Macron
The most likely for the Head of State remains to widen his majority with left-wing elected representatives called “Macron compatible” and LR deputies called “constructive”. “I will be a free and responsible elected official. Our political family must not block the institutions and must participate in the recovery of France”, thus entrusts to franceinfo a deputy Les Républicains, who has already been called by the executive. But possible piecemeal poaching will not necessarily involve all the political forces.