Macron rules out left-wing government option

Photo: Teresa Suarez Pool via Associated Press The political deadlock continues while the resigning Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, has been managing current affairs for 41 days, something never seen before in France since the post-war period.

Agence France-Presse in Paris

Published at 3:33 p.m.

• Europe

Still no prime minister a month and a half after the legislative elections in France: President Emmanuel Macron ruled out the option of a left-wing government on Monday and announced new consultations “with party leaders” and “personalities”.

Following a first series of meetings since Friday with the political parties, Mr. Macron ruled out the option of a government “based solely on the program and the parties” of the New Popular Front (NFP).

Such an executive “would be immediately censored by all the other groups represented in the National Assembly” and “the institutional stability of our country therefore requires that this option not be retained,” wrote the presidency in a press release.

Mr. Macron urged socialists, environmentalists and communists to “cooperate with the other political forces,” without naming La France Insoumise (LFI, radical left) with which the latter formed the left-wing alliance of the NFP, which came out on top in the legislative elections but without an absolute majority in the National Assembly.

A way of asking them to dissociate themselves from LFI. Immediately, the rebellious leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon judged on X that the president had just “created a situation of exceptional gravity”.

“The popular and political response must be swift and firm” and a “motion of impeachment” of Mr. Macron “will be tabled” in the Assembly, he added.

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Another leader of the rebellious, Manuel Bompard denounced on the BFMTV channel “a completely unacceptable anti-democratic coup de force that is carried out on the basis of an argument that makes no sense”, assuring that they will not “participate in a new attempt at consultation”.

No more than the communists, their leader Fabien Roussel calling for “a large popular mobilization” in “the coming days.”

The French president did, however, announce on Monday evening “a new cycle” of discussions starting on Tuesday to find a prime minister, with party leaders and “personalities distinguished by experience in the service of the State and the Republic.”

“My responsibility is that the country is neither blocked nor weakened,” added Mr. Macron.

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Threats of censorship

How long will these extensions last? The appointment of a prime minister is “not excluded” this week, but not guaranteed either, an advisor to the executive now says.

The schedule is tight: Emmanuel Macron, who has several diplomatic meetings this week, must attend the opening ceremony of the Paralympic Games on Wednesday, before flying to Serbia on Thursday and Friday.

The possibility of a left-wing government has been ruled out due to threats of censorship from other political parties.

Representatives of the presidential camp, the right and the far right, after repeating for weeks that they did not want rebellious ministers, now admit that it is the NFP's very program that they reject.

This includes raising the minimum wage, new taxes for the richest and, above all, reversing the pension reform, the flagship text of the second five-year term Macron.

The alternative hypothesis of a centre-right government, favoured by the president, also faces numerous obstacles and remains dependent on the abstention of far-right deputies in the Assembly.

A deadlock that continues even though the resigning Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, has been managing current affairs for 41 days, something never seen before in France since the post-war period.

And the executive will have to present a budget before 1 October and have it voted on before the end of the year.