Several figures from Renaissance and Horizons are “reaching out” to the Republicans with a view to forming a government. The idea is riling up the left wing of Macron’s party.
Macronie has entered a zone of turbulence. Three days after the second round of early legislative elections, marked by their clear decline, the parties of the presidential camp are divided on their role and positioning in the new National Assembly, deprived of an absolute majority to govern. Should we reach out to all republicans of good will, without distinction or preference, as Emmanuel Macron called for in a letter to the French people on Wednesday, July 10? The MoDem, a component of the presidential camp since 2017, is in favor of this choice.
Is it, on the contrary, necessary to choose the right to the detriment of the left in an attempt to form a government? For the right wing of Renaissance, this second option is preferable, in the face of the New Popular Front which, with its 180 seats won (against 163 for Macronie), is urging the head of state to entrust it with the mission of forming a government. The Republicans, who with their allies have 66 elected representatives, would allow them to form a coalition that would carry more weight than the left in the chamber, without however ensuring an absolute majority of 289 deputies.
Unsurprisingly, this is the solution favoured by Horizons, Edouard Philippe’s party. On Tuesday evening, on TF1, the former Prime Minister called for the signing of a “technical agreement” with the Republicans, in view “to move forward and manage the affairs of the country for at least one year”. “The LR are not far from me, on many ideas”, added Wednesday to the National Assembly Laurent Marcangeli, who led the Horizons parliamentary group before its dissolution.
Several figures from the Renaissance group have expressed their wish to ally themselves primarily with the right-wing party. “Can we agree on the essentials with the LR deputies, or will the NFP remain the leading force in the Assembly, with all the consequences that this would have?”supported Maud Bregeon, Tuesday, on X. Aurore Bergé, Minister Delegate in charge of Equality between Women and Men, declared on France 2 that she wished “a coalition of projects”only with The Republicans.
This opinion is shared by MP Benjamin Haddad: “I hope that we will work with Les Républicains if we want to hear the demand for authority, for strengthening of sovereignty, for security that has been expressed by the French for several years.”detailed the elected representative of Paris on BFMTV. For Mathieu Lefèvre, close to Gérald Darmanin, “the path” is also “to the right”as he defended on Wednesday to franceinfo.
“It is urgent to work with the Republican right, then possibly with the social democrats who will have broken with LFI.”
Mathieu Lefèvre, Renaissance MP for Val-de-Marneto franceinfo
In the minds of some elected officials, this alliance could even go as far as allowing a member of the Republicans to settle in Matignon, while the LR deputies have just appointed Laurent Wauquiez as their head. “There could be a right-wing prime minister, that wouldn’t bother me at all”assured Gérald Darmanin, current Minister of the Interior and re-elected in the North, on Europe 1 on Wednesday.
The rest of the Renaissance group is not aligned with these positions. On Wednesday, in the middle of the afternoon, these deputies assured in a press release that:“They are working with determination and sincerity for a coalition project ranging from the social democrats to the right of government”without mentioning the priority of an alliance with Les Républicains. Shortly afterwards, in his letter to the French, Emmanuel Macron asked “to all political forces that recognize themselves in the republican institutions (…) to engage in a sincere and loyal dialogue to build a solid majority, necessarily plural, for the country”.
“The speech by the President of the Republic clarifies the fact that dialogue must take place with the Republican right and the Republican left”deciphers MP Marc Ferracci. For the elected official, close to the head of state, the positions of Emmanuel Macron and those of his troops in the Assembly are not contradictory.
“Negotiating with the Republicans does not mean negotiating only with the Republicans.”
Marc Ferracci, deputy for the Renaissance of French people abroadto franceinfo
This more or less advanced dialogue with the right, however, has caused doubts among some of the Macronist troops, who are sceptical about the chances of success of this outstretched hand. Others are even more irritated by this choice to turn primarily to the group led by Laurent Wauquiez. They are now hesitant to continue the adventure within the Renaissance group. “The only message that many of us are defending is: ‘LR, alone, we don’t want it, it won’t work!'”insists Ludovic Mendes, who has kept his seat as deputy of Moselle.
On the other hand, Les Républicains do not seem any more inclined to build bridges with the former presidential majority. Laurent Wauquiez has warned that his group would not participate in a “government coalition”considering that it is impossible to answer the “crisis of a country by a combination of devices”. VSSome figures on the right, however, have shown themselves to be open to the idea, such as the LR president of Hauts-de-France, Xavier Bertrand, or the former leader of the LR deputies, Olivier Marleix, who have argued for the appointment of a Prime Minister from their camp who would take the head of a “rally government”.
Finally, some of the Macronist deputies are considering a pure and simple departure from Renaissance. Sacha Houlié, former president of the law commission, announced to AFP on Wednesday afternoon that he would refuse to sit in the group: “Obviously, we are trying to create a group that goes from the social right to the socialist left so that France is governable.” This is also what Stella Dupont, another member of the left wing, is trying to do. “Our centre-left sensibility needs to be visible and readable. This requires a group, which always follows a logic of coherence and cohesion.”stressed the elected representative of Maine-et-Loire from the National Assembly on Wednesday.
“For me, there is a missing link between the New Popular Front and the presidential camp. This centre-left group can be a tool for convergence and a useful space for dialogue.”
Stella Dupont, Renaissance MPduring a press briefing at the National Assembly
“We have to do something where we can show that we can bring people together, but nothing is certain at this stage. We want to build with external forces, building like a kind of airlock.”continues Ludovic Mendes, who will make his decision on whether or not to belong to Renaissance on Thursday morning.
Divided, Emmanuel Macron’s party is trying as best it can to preserve its unity before the deadline for the formation of parliamentary groups, July 17. “We must stop pulling each other’s legs and ensure that enlargement initiatives are viewed favorably”insists Olga Givernet. “Some are ready, in one way or another, to go to the left, others just want to take their independence, to be able to say ‘shit’ whenever they want.notes Florent Boudié, elected representative of Gironde. The deputy believes, however, that the “The group can remain united if the strongest voices, such as Gabriel Attal, Elisabeth Borne, Gérald Darmanin, Yaël Braun-Pivet, or Aurore Bergé take a collegial approach”.