French leftists persistently seek a high-profile contender prior to forthcoming votes
Far-left presidential hopeful Jean-Luc Mélenchon, vying for the prime minister role, encounters resistance from his fellow party members. Both the Greens and the Socialists have voiced their opposition. Socialist politician Raphaël Glucksmann voiced his sentiment at a campaign event, "We can't let our campaign be sabotaged by him."
Green leader Marie Tondelier dismissed Mélenchon as a prime minister candidate. In the event of a win for their alliance, the New Popular Front "will work together" to suggest a candidate for the prime minister position. "We're discussing until we reach a mutually agreeable solution," Tondelier stressed. A cool-headed individual is essential.
Over 220 politicians and representatives from civil society, as expressed in an opinion piece in "Le Monde", urged third-placed candidates to step down to thwart a triumph for right-wing populists. French electoral law mandates that voters vote among candidates from several parties in the first round, usually followed by a second round.
President Emmanuel Macron, despite his initial promise to stay uninvolved in the campaign, constantly interferes. In a nearly two-hour podcast on Monday evening, he warned of potential civil unrest if the left-green or right-wing populist camp wins the election. "That's just his scare tactic," remarked right-conservative politician Eric Ciotti about this.
Recent polls suggest the RN stands at around 36%, the New Popular Front trails close behind at nearly 30%. Macron's camp lags with approximately 20%.
Macron, whose presidential term extends until 2027 regardless of the election result, theoretically retains independence in the appointment of the prime minister. Practically, however, he requires a prime minister who commands the majority in the National Assembly. Historically, the party with the best election result drafts the prime minister candidate.
Bardella, leader of the right-wing populist Rassemblement National (RN), has already announced that he will only accept the prime minister role if he secures an absolute majority in the National Assembly. It's likely that Macron will appoint a technocrat as prime minister – or choose to maintain the current government for an extended period, possibly until the Olympic Games.
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- The French leftists, aiming for an electoral alliance, are actively searching for a top candidate to challenge Emmanuel Macron in the upcoming election.
- Gabriel Attal, a prominent figure in the left, has been mentioned as a potential prime minister candidate, given his popularity among the left-leaning voters in France.
- In response to this, some members of the National Assembly have voiced concerns about an electoral alliance with Gabriel Attal, fearing it could dilute the left's influence in the Prime Minister role.
- Despite this, the Left and the Greens have agreed to work together during the election campaign, aiming to present a united front against the right-wing populists led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
- should a new election be necessary, Jean-Luc Mélenchon's popularity might increase, potentially becoming a formidable contender for the prime minister role, as he continues his campaign on the Left's platform.
- The prospect of a left-wing or right-wing populist prime minister has raised concerns about political stability in France, with many advocating for a return to traditional party politics to ensure a balanced representation in the National Assembly.
