French election: Macron rules out governing together with left-wing populists
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal confirmed the government's position on online platform X: "There is no alliance with LFI, and there won't be one," he stated.
By Tuesday evening, over 200 candidates from constituencies with three-cornered contests had withdrawn to narrow the chances of right-wing candidates. However, it cannot be ruled out how many voters will actually give their votes to the remaining counter-candidate of the right-wing party Rassemblement National (RN).
Macron called for a "broad alliance" against the RN after the first round but left open who could belong to it. The government camp is deeply hostile to the LFI party, which has been in opposition so far and now forms the largest group within the left-wing electoral alliance New Popular Front. The New Popular Front surprisingly agreed to field only one joint candidate per constituency.
Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and others had advocated for not giving any votes to the LFI, even if it meant allowing a win for an RN candidate.
Meanwhile, plans for a TV debate before the second round have fallen through, as RN party leader Jordan Bardella refused to discuss with the Green leader Marine Tondelier. He explicitly demanded a debate with the left-wing populist Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who, in his assessment, would be beneficial to his voters.
Since the New Popular Front could not agree on a figurehead, representatives from the participating parties appeared in previous debates. The broadcaster BFM has now given up on a debate and plans instead for three one-on-one interviews with Attal, Bardella, and Tondelier on Wednesday evening.
The likelihood of an absolute majority for the RN has become less certain due to the strategic withdrawal of over 200 candidates after the first round, but it is still not impossible. The distribution of seats in the National Assembly will be decided in the second round on the coming Sunday. For an absolute majority, 289 of 577 seats are required.
The right-wing populists believe they will be able to get at least 270 deputies, as well as additional support from other parties, and form a government majority. This would make France the fourth time to experience a cohabitation, in which the President and Prime Minister come from different political camps.
- Despite Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's stance against an alliance with the Left Front (LFI), some voters might consider giving their votes to the remaining counter-candidate of the Rassemblement National (RN) in the run-off election.
- Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire and others in the government camp have advocated for not giving any votes to the LFI, even if it means allowing a win for an RN candidate in certain constituencies.
- The government's hostility towards the LFI party is evident, as they are currently the largest group within the left-wing electoral alliance New Popular Front in the French election.
- Emmanuel Macron called for a "broad alliance" against the RN after the first round of the French election, leaving open the possibility of who could be part of this alliance.
- In a surprising turn of events, the New Popular Front agreed to field only one joint candidate per constituency, which could potentially benefit right-wing candidates in some regions.
- Marine Tondelier, the Green party leader, had been scheduled to participate in a TV debate with RN party leader Jordan Bardella, but he refused due to a demand for a debate with the left-wing populist Jean-Luc Mélenchon instead.
- If the right-wing populists manage to get at least 270 deputies in the second round, France could potentially experience its fourth period of cohabitation, where the President and Prime Minister come from different political camps.
