The leaders of the right, Laurent Wauquiez, Annie Genevard, and Bruno Retailleau, were received for the second time by Emmanuel Macron at the Elysée on August 28. The meeting, which included a polite exchange, was more tense than the previous one as Macron put pressure on the right to engage in a government coalition beyond the legislative pact they had previously proposed. Macron hinted that failing to join the government would result in a left-wing figure being appointed as Prime Minister. The leaders of the right pushed Macron to endorse their proposed measures, but he evaded the request, portraying himself as an arbitrator. The right felt squeezed as Macron attempted to shift the blame onto them for any deadlock.
The right finds itself in a difficult position as Macron tries to force them to take responsibility for the government’s impasse. Wauquiez, the leader of the right-wing party Les Républicains, is feeling the pressure and understands the risks of refusing to enter the government as Macron prolongs his consultations. The longer LR delays joining the government, the more costly it may be in terms of losing support from their electoral base. The right appears to be caught in a difficult situation where they must balance endorsing their proposed priorities in their legislative pact while trying to avoid being seen as contributing to institutional chaos.
For the right, the delicate balance lies in their attempt to outline their priorities such as work revaluation, immigration firmness, and combating wasteful public spending in their legislative pact without being seen as furthering institutional chaos. Wauquiez, who is working to create a political space for the 2027 presidential election, sees little benefit in joining a sinking ship led by a president unable to seek re-election in three years. Retailleau stresses the importance of preserving the party’s freedom and preventing a return to the “en même temps” (“in the meantime”) approach in a potential coalition government.
The right’s reluctance to join a coalition government stems from their desire to maintain their autonomy and strategic positioning for future elections. Wauquiez and his counterparts understand the risks of entering a government led by Macron, especially with the uncertainty surrounding his re-election prospects. The right aims to protect their core values and principles while staying ready for potential power shifts in the political landscape. As discussions and negotiations continue, the right must carefully navigate their next steps to avoid compromising their political stance while seeking to influence government decisions.
