Macron engages in ongoing discussions about establishing the government; potential appointment set for Tuesday.
Cazeneuve, seen as moderate by the left-wing coalition Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), who suggested Lucie Castets and was snubbed by Macron, reportedly expressed through his inner circle that he's "not begging for the job." If he were to become Prime Minister, he'd do so "out of a sense of responsibility" and "to prevent any additional complications for the nation." Cazeneuve previously served as Prime Minister from late 2016 to May 2017, with a stint as Interior Minister before that.
Bertrand, who didn't make the cut for the conservative Republicans' 2022 presidential election nomination and has been the head of Hauts-de-France since 2016, received high praise from former conservative president Nicolas Sarkozy in a recent "Le Figaro" interview as a potential candidate for the Prime Minister role.
However, significant figures within the Republican party hierarchy, such as parliamentary group leader Laurent Wauquiez, are opposed to any involvement of their party in a new government, aiming to contest the 2027 presidential election from the opposition.
The left-wing alliance NFP came out as the most powerful force following the July parliamentary elections, surpassing Macron's camp and the far-right Rassemblement National (RN). None of the three groups have a majority in the National Assembly.
Macron, with the Paris Olympic Games running until August 11, initially kept the existing government led by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in power. However, with the deadline for submitting a 2025 budget draft approaching in October, a decision is now imminent.
Generally, after a parliamentary election, the largest group in the National Assembly proposes a candidate for the Prime Minister role. The President has the power to appoint anyone, but they rely on the Prime Minister securing a majority for the government's legislative proposals in the National Assembly.
Bertrand, despite not being considered for the Prime Minister role directly, might schedule an appointment to discuss his potential involvement in forming a new government, given the current political situation. If appointed, Bertrand would need to ensure that the Republican party maintains its strong opposition stance for the 2027 presidential election.
Given Cazeneuve's previous experience as Prime Minister and his stated reasons for accepting the position, it's possible that he may be faced with the need for another appointment if Macron decides to reshuffle the government following the budget deadline.
