After the legislative elections, left-wing and green party leaders were able to form a programmatic and electoral agreement to combat the rise of the far-right and limit the advance of the National Rally (RN). They managed to beat the outgoing majority and gain around forty more seats compared to 2022, achieving a (very) relative majority in the National Assembly. This would typically put them in a favorable position to govern in most advanced democracies, where negotiations to form a government with the support of a majority of deputies would be necessary. However, the institutional power of the President of the Fifth Republic, who appoints the Prime Minister directly, allowed Emmanuel Macron to delay negotiations and engage in bilateral talks to preserve his own record.
The reluctance of other political forces to compromise and participate in a coalition government led to a standoff, with both the far-left New Popular Front (NFP) and other parties refusing to govern or allow others to govern. The NFP, in particular, has been criticized for its sectarian and unrealistic approach, with figures like Jean-Luc Mélenchon advocating for a strict adherence to the party’s program without a significant number of deputies to support it. Delaying the nomination of a candidate for Prime Minister and rejecting potential names that could have facilitated compromise only served to highlight divisions within the NFP and reduce pressure on Macron. By announcing intentions to censor a potential government led by Cazeneuve, La France insoumise and the Greens played a high-stakes game that ultimately benefited the RN.
The National Rally’s position was strengthened by the unwillingness of other parties to negotiate and cooperate, ultimately leading to a scenario where Marine Le Pen agreed not to censor a Prime Minister close to her party’s policies. The limited coalition of around 200 deputies that could potentially support a government was not able to come to fruition due to the rigid stance taken by various political actors. The ongoing proximity to the presidential election contributed to the persistence of this deadlock, with Macron delaying decisive action to preserve his political positioning. The failure to form a coalition government and the polarization of political forces have left France in a state of uncertainty and political gridlock.
The situation highlights larger issues within the French political landscape, including the need for parties to be more open to compromise and coalition-building in order to effectively govern and address pressing issues facing the country. The current impasse reflects a broader trend of inflexibility and ideological purity within political parties, leading to a lack of effective governance and solutions to complex challenges. Moving forward, there is a pressing need for a shift towards a more collaborative and inclusive approach to politics in order to break the current deadlock and pave the way for effective governance in France.
