France in political ...
Page 1
Macron’s plea seems to exclude the far-right and some parts of the far-left present in the NUPES coalition. In essence, Macron seeks an alliance between the moderate left and his centrist supporters to secure a parliamentary majority. However, so far, the French president has failed to forge a political union among the groups. Now, about 10 days after the elections, the nation is still in a state of uncertainty as the first session of the National Assembly looms.
Adding to the turmoil is the resignation of moderate Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, which Macron has accepted while urging him to remain as a caretaker until a new government can be formed. However, it is unclear when and under what circumstances this new government will emerge.
What further fuels the French people’s concern about this unstable political situation is the upcoming global sporting event—the Olympic Games in Paris, which are set to begin in just eight days.
At present, there is no clear prospect that this limbo will be resolved by the Olympics’ opening ceremony or even in the coming weeks. The left-wing coalition, having secured the most seats in parliament, believes it is entitled to have the prime minister chosen from among its ranks.
On the other hand, the far-right, buoyed by its significant achievement of securing 143 seats, remains a force to be reckoned with and will not accept being sidelined from the governing coalition.
Macron has stated that the time to appoint a new prime minister will come when the political forces reach an agreement to form a parliamentary majority—a demand that does not seem easily achievable. An alliance between the right and left appears unlikely.
The expected option is a coalition between the left and Macron’s centrists, but even this hinges on political talks and understandings regarding the selection of the prime ministerwhether from the left or Macron’s party. Moreover, Macron has a clear disagreement with parts of the NUPES coalition, particularly the far-left La France Insoumise, and has asked them to exclude the radicals. However, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of this far-left party, has already expressed his readiness to become prime minister.
What keeps France’s future shrouded in uncertainty is that even if a coalition is formed to secure a majority in the parliament, it will likely not lead to a strong government. Such a government would constantly be on the brink of collapse due to the fragile coalition dynamics. Macron is going through tough times and may face even harder days ahead. According to The New York Times, Macron appears deeply isolated. After seven years in office, he has failed to establish a robust centrist party. The right-wing and left-wing parties, which seemed outdated when he came to power in 2017, have regained their strength.