In a surprising move, Jean-Luc Mélenchon opened the door to a non-participation of the “insoumis” in a potential government led by Lucie Castets. During an interview on TF1, Mélenchon challenged the three parties of the Macronist camp and the right, who threatened to censure if La France insoumise (LFI) were to enter the government. Mélenchon asked if they would allow Castets to implement the program that led LFI to the top of the legislative elections even if there were no “insoumis” ministers in the government.
The option of supporting LFI without participating in the government, similar to what the communists did with the Popular Front in 1936, is now on the table and has reshuffled the cards. This move was seen as an opening for a potential support without LFI ministers in the government. The first secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, a member of the New Popular Front coalition, reacted positively to Mélenchon’s statement, seeing it as an opportunity for potential support without the need for LFI ministers.
Lucie Castets responded to Mélenchon’s statement by calling it a “constructive position,” and stressed the need for the Macron camp to uphold their responsibilities. The Greens were eagerly awaiting the responses of the leaders of the Macronist parties. Castets, who had been informed in advance of Mélenchon’s initiative, acknowledged the constructive nature of the proposition, emphasizing the collective responsibility of the NFP parties to govern effectively.
Until now, leaders of LFI had rejected the idea of non-participation in a government led by Castets. However, after discussions with Mélenchon and his allies, an option for a different approach was considered. The presence of LFI members in the government is a red line for the Macronists, right-wing, and far-right parties. Despite opposition from these groups, Mélenchon’s move was seen as a strategic attempt to apply pressure and reveal the true intentions of the presidential camp.
Emmanuel Macron initiated consultations with party and parliamentary group leaders to nominate a prime minister, six weeks after the legislative elections. The left-wing coalition NFP had the highest number of seats but fell short of an absolute majority. Macron is set to meet with leaders of the National Rally Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, as well as their ally Eric Ciotti. It remains to be seen if Mélenchon is willing to forgo LFI ministers to form a left-wing government or if this move is a political maneuver to test the intentions of the presidential camp.
Many on the left praised Mélenchon’s move as a bold political maneuver. They viewed it as a strategic move to appear as the one not blocking the process and focusing on the application of the program. The response from the LFI coordinator, Manuel Bompard, emphasized that the main focus is on implementing the program rather than individual personalities. Overall, Mélenchon’s move was seen as a clever and calculated decision to influence the formation of the government and test the motivations of the Macron camp.
