French President Emmanuel Macronon Tuesday rejected naming as prime minister Lucie Castetsproposed by the left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP) -alliance that came first in the legislative elections-, since “lacks a majority.”
“The question is not a name, but what majority can be found in the National Assembly (lower house) so that a French government can approve reforms, a budget and move the country forward,” Macron said in an interview on public broadcaster France 2.
The NFP is made up of the radical left party La France Insoumise (LFI)socialists, environmentalists, communists and other formations, and obtained in the legislative elections 193 of the 577 deputiesfalling almost 100 seats short of an absolute majority.
In second place was Macron’s centre-right alliance with some 160 deputies and then the block formed by the far-right party National Grouping and its allies, with 143 legislators.
“Anyone’s won” and “It is false to say that the NFP would have a majoritywhatever it may be,” said the 46-year-old president, who called on the parties of the “republican front,” which excludes the extreme right, to to “rise to the occasion” and “reach compromises.”
“Evidently, Until mid-August, we have to concentrate on the Olympic Games “And then, depending on how these discussions develop, it will be up to me to appoint a prime minister,” he added.
The left’s response to Emmanuel Macron’s statements
Macron’s remarks caused outrage on the left. The leader of LFI, Manuel Bomparddenounced: “By refusing to call on the NFP to form a government, Emmanuel Macron is erasing the result of the legislative elections. “It is an intolerable denial of democracy.”
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Castets’ proposal for prime minister emerged after 16 days of negotiations, after failing to reach a consensus previously on two names: the president of the Réunion region, Huguette Bellor, and the expert in climate diplomacy Laurence Tubiana.
Who is Lucie Castets, the NFP’s candidate for Prime Minister?
Lucie Castets is 37 years old and is the current director of finance for the city of Paris. The economist assured AFP that she accepted the proposal “with all humility but with great conviction” and presented herself as a candidate “credible and serious” for the position.
In turn, the left-wing coalition highlighted its involvement in the “associative struggles for the defense and promotion of public services,” and their commitment to combating the increase in the retirement age from 62 to 64 years old, which Macron approved by decree in 2023.
Source: Ambito
