Emmanuel Macron has invited the presidents of parliamentary groups and party leaders represented in Parliament to a series of exchanges on August 23, in an effort to form a new government, according to the Elysee Palace. The appointment of a new prime minister will follow these consultations and their conclusions, the presidency announced. The Elysee acknowledges that the French expressed a desire for change and broad consensus during the July legislative elections, and hopes to continue moving towards the formation of the broadest and most stable majority possible for the country.
One month after the resignation of the Attal government, Emmanuel Macron is still delaying the formation of a new government, citing the lack of a majority in a fragmented Assembly divided between a leftist bloc, a contingent from the Rassemblement National and its allies, and a Macronist bloc. The united left within the Nouveau Front populaire (New Popular Front), boasting the largest contingent with 193 deputies, is pressuring the president to appoint senior civil servant Lucie Castets as Prime Minister. The four parties within the NFP (Socialist Party, La France Insoumise, The Ecologists, and the French Communist Party) plan to attend the August 23 meeting together, with Castets as their candidate, as stated by La France Insoumise coordinator, Manuel Bompard.
Despite Macron’s initial dismissal of the Castets option on July 23, stating that the question was not about a name but rather about the majority in the Assembly, the president has indicated that he is open to meeting with Castets, as confirmed by his entourage. Macron had previously postponed the formation of a new government until after the Olympics. The political landscape in France is complex, with various factions vying for influence and the need for a strong and stable majority to govern effectively.
The process of forming a new government in France is a delicate balancing act, with the President seeking to navigate the fragmented political landscape and build a broad and stable majority. The upcoming consultations with parliamentary group leaders and party representatives will be crucial in determining the direction of the new government. The pressure from the united left within the NFP to nominate Lucie Castets as Prime Minister highlights the challenges of coalition-building and the need for consensus among diverse political factions. Macron’s willingness to engage with Castets demonstrates a willingness to explore all options in the search for a viable government.
