At a recent meeting, a division within the French Socialist Party (PS) was highlighted regarding whether to support the current government or to seek a change in leadership. The mayor of Vaulx-en-Velin, Hélène Geoffroy, who opposes the current PS Secretary General Olivier Faure, believes that the party is on the brink of rupture. She has called for renewed discussions with President Macron to explore options for a Socialist or Social-Democratic Prime Minister. Another minority faction within the PS, led by the mayor of Rouen, Nicolas Mayer-Rossignol, also advocates for a pragmatic approach.
Former French President François Hollande has weighed in on the situation, stating that the Socialists should support policies that advance the country, while ruling out an alliance with the center that he believes would ultimately fail. Some PS members have taken a firm stance by declaring that any government perpetuating Macronism would be subject to censure. However, Macron supporters remain hopeful that some PS members could be swayed, particularly if a center-left Prime Minister like Bernard Cazeneuve is selected, as suggested by MP Mathieu Lefèvre.
The official stance of the PS, along with other members of the New Popular Front, is to refuse returning to the Elysee Palace for discussions other than negotiating a cohabitation agreement with Matignon under female candidate Castets. This sets the stage for potentially intense debates at the upcoming PS summer university in Blois. Meanwhile, President Macron continues to lead the longest-serving caretaker government by Gabriel Attal, currently in office for forty-three days, as the country operates under a caretaker government.
Overall, the PS is facing internal divisions over whether to support or censure the current government. Some members advocate for seeking alternative solutions through discussions with President Macron, while others take a more firm stance against any continuation of Macronism. Emmanuel Macron hopes to sway some PS members by potentially selecting a center-left Prime Minister to attract social democrats. The upcoming PS summer university in Blois is expected to be a platform for heated debates and discussions on the future direction of the party and its relationship with the current government.
