What parliamentary calendar after the second round?

On Sunday, during the second round of the legislative elections, 501 deputies must be elected. Starting Monday, the parliamentarians will have several important meetings to honor.

Thunderbolt and new questions. The New Popular Front came out on top in the early legislative elections following the second round held on Sunday, July 7, with 178 elected deputies, including 146 in the second round, according to the latest results communicated by the Ministry of the Interior. The presidential movement Ensemble! obtained 150 seats, including 148 deputies elected in the second round. The National Rally and its allies collected 143 seats, including 104 acquired in the second round.

But after this surprise, the time for negotiations has come… for an elusive majority. The first step after these elections takes place this Monday 8: the official results will have to be proclaimed, after counting in all the polling stations. We will then know the composition of the new National Assembly. The schedule will then extend until the end of July.

Before July 18: formation of parliamentary groups

According to Article 12 of the Constitution, “the National Assembly meets automatically on the second Thursday following its election.” This leaves around ten days of preparation for the various political parties to form parliamentary groups, composed of at least 15 deputies. They will also have to appoint the presidents of these groups, but also designate their candidates for important positions in the Assembly (president, vice-president, quaestors, etc.)

July 18: First plenary session

The deputies all have an appointment at the Palais-Bourbon: on that day, the 17th legislature will be officially opened during a plenary session.

This first session is chaired by the dean of the hemicycle, assisted by the six youngest deputies. He proceeds to the election of the president of the National Assembly, the fourth person of the State, which takes place by secret ballot. During this same session, each group submits to the presidency the list of its members and specifies whether or not it places itself in the opposition.

The following day, Friday July 19, will see the election of the other key positions in the Assembly: the vice-presidents, the quaestors, as well as the members of the various committees, cultural, economic, foreign affairs and sustainable development.

In the coming days and weeks: appointment of the Prime Minister

The Constitution does not set a deadline for the president to appoint his Prime Minister. Emmanuel Macron will therefore be able to appoint him within the week, in two weeks, or at the end of the summer if he wishes. To ensure the principle of continuity of the State, the current government will remain in place as long as necessary. As for the casting, the president can choose whoever he wants to lead the government, but custom dictates that he takes into account the results of the legislative elections.

It remains to be seen whether a group will obtain an absolute majority, set at 289 seats, relative but comfortable, with at least 270 deputies, or a weak one with political forces neck and neck. So many scenarios that can influence the choice of the head of state.

But the person chosen by Emmanuel Macron to fill the post of Prime Minister may refuse his offer. In this case, the president will have to find someone else, a political figure or a so-called “more technical” profile. He will then lead a government composed of experts, senior civil servants or economists to manage the day-to-day affairs of the State for at least a year, since the National Assembly cannot be dissolved before then.