Election to the National Assembly - Search for prime minister: Left-wing camp in France divided
Three days after the French Parliament election, parties are still fighting over which political camp will form the future government. The new Left Alliance is considering who will be proposed as Prime Minister if a government is to be formed. According to France Info, there was no agreement reached during a late-night meeting between the Socialists and the Left Party. Both parties are vying for dominance within the Left Alliance.
The Socialists reportedly see their party leader Olivier Faure as a suitable candidate. The Left Party has expressed support for their deputy Clémence Guetté, who organized Jean-Luc Mélenchon's presidential campaign in 2022. The Left Alliance went into the Parliamentary election without a lead candidate and had announced that they would name a candidate for the position of Prime Minister by the end of this or the beginning of the following week.
Left Government still uncertain
Since the new Left Alliance, consisting of Greens, Communists, Socialists, and the Left Party, was far from an absolute majority in the election on Sunday, it is still undecided whether the Alliance will also form the government. In a joint statement on Tuesday evening, the Left Alliance called on President Emmanuel Macron to entrust them with government formation. However, without further partners, the Alliance would not be government-capable and could be blocked by other political camps.
The right-national Rassemblement National (RN) of Marine Le Pen has already made it clear that it sees itself in the opposition role. Representatives of other parties and streams within the camps were meanwhile exploring possibilities for cooperation or coalition to reach a majority and the possibility of government formation.
Socialists and Conservatives consult with Macron's camp
According to BFMTV from the National Assembly, both the Socialists and the conservative Republicans are exploring possibilities of cooperation with Macron's camp. The report also mentions considerations in the left wing of the previous government coalition to form a new political camp with former Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne as its leader.
President Macron had asked Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to continue acting as Prime Minister on Monday. This transition period could also last due to the approaching political summer break. For Macron, there is no prescribed deadline by which a new government must be in place.
- The new Left Alliance, including parties like the Socialists and the Left Party, is currently debating who their proposed Prime Minister would be if they form a government after the Parliamentary election.
- Despite the late-night meeting between the Socialists and the Left Party, no agreement was reached on the nomination of a Prime Minister candidate, with both parties seeking dominance within the Alliance.
- The Left Alliance, which went into the election without a lead candidate, announced they would name a candidate for the Prime Minister position by the end of this or the beginning of the following week.
- If the Left Alliance forms the government, as mentioned in their joint statement to President Emmanuel Macron, they would lack the absolute majority needed and could be obstructed by other political camps.
- Marine Le Pen's right-national Rassemblement National (RN) has already declared its opposition role, while other political camps and parties are exploring possibilities for cooperation or coalition to form a majority and potentially form a government.
- Both the Socialists and the conservative Republicans are reportedly examining possibilities for cooperation with President Macron's camp, and considerations are being made to form a new political camp with former Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne at its helm.
