After a meeting with Emmanuel Macron, the presidential camp leans towards a “neither-nor” approach towards the RN and LFI for the second round. During a telephone conference organized at 2 p.m. on Tuesday by Emmanuel Macron, bringing together party leaders from the presidential camp as well as the Prime Minister, Gabriel Attal, a handful of heavyweight ministers and some long-time Macron supporters like Julien Denormandie, the presidential camp outlined the strategy that could be applied following the first round of legislative elections on June 30. They seemed pleased that the campaign had not been disrupted by any “parasitism,” and never mentioned the recent controversial remarks by the President on the risk of “civil war” linked to opponents’ programs. Gabriel Attal then allowed the various forces to speak.
According to the Elysée, a consensus emerged on the “neither-nor” line, meaning neither the National Rally (RN) nor France Unbowed (LFI) for the second round. This tactic is consistent with the fight against “extremism” emphasized by the presidential camp. It is likely that Renaissance, MoDem, and Horizons candidates may have to withdraw to block the RN or LFI. However, the strategy will be refined on a constituency-by-constituency basis, a conference participant warned. Should we systematically let a potentially RN-leaning Republican candidate win in some places after July 7? questioned a president’s ally. Some also demand that, to potentially benefit in the second round, socialist or green candidates who are part of the New Popular Front make a gesture to distinguish themselves from France Unbowed.
Even though LFI has no chance of winning an absolute majority, the party and its leader, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, are seen as the ultimate repellent. Another sign that the republican front against the far right is over. Gérald Darmanin, the Interior Minister, who was present at the telephone conference, pointed out that voters are often more frightened by LFI than the RN today. “Is everyone in agreement to stay focused on the first round issue until the evening of the vote?” asked the president, described as “calm” by participants who agreed to meet again over the weekend to define the precise strategy for the second round. “Faced with a far-left bloc that is attacking each other and a far-right bloc that unfortunately shows unity, we cannot afford to divide ourselves,” pleaded the President. The Elysée believes they are gaining momentum, noting a favorable trend in recent polls.
In summary, the presidential camp is leaning towards a strategy of neither supporting the RN nor LFI for the second round of legislative elections. The emphasis is on maintaining unity in the face of extreme leftist and far-right forces. The strategy may involve candidates from certain parties withdrawing to block the advance of RN or LFI candidates. The importance of maintaining focus on the first-round issues until the end of the vote was stressed during a telephone conference led by Emmanuel Macron, with the President calling for unity against the divisive forces of the far left and far right.
The end of the republican front against the far right is signaled by the focus on blocking LFI rather than the RN, as LFI and Jean-Luc Mélenchon are seen as more alarming to voters. The potential alliance between socialist and green candidates who are part of the New Popular Front, and the call for them to distinguish themselves from LFI, further underlines the strategy of unity against divisive forces. The Elysée believes they are on the right track and plans to refine the strategy for the second round in the coming days. The goal is to prevent any potential threat to the Republic from either extreme end of the political spectrum and to maintain stability and unity in the face of increasing polarization.
Overall, the presidential camp is focused on maintaining a “neither-nor” stance towards the RN and LFI, emphasizing the need for unity against extremism. The withdrawal of certain candidates and potential alliances between socialist and green parties are being considered to block the advance of LFI and RN candidates. The importance of staying focused on the issues of the first round until the end of the vote was highlighted during a meeting led by Emmanuel Macron, with an emphasis on the need to prevent division and stay united against the forces of the far left and far right. The strategy will be further refined in the coming days to ensure a strong and cohesive approach in the second round of legislative elections.
