Almost two months after the legislative elections, the President of France, Emmanuel Macronaccelerates discussions with the left and right to appoint a new prime minister. The socialist Bernard Cazeneuvewho held the position between 2016 and 2017, and the Republican Xavier Bertrand They were summoned for this Monday by the presidents as possible consensus figures to preside over Parliament.
The announcement of these meetings shows the acceleration of the consultations carried out by Macron, which enter the final phase after 55 days of political crisis following the elections in which no group obtained an absolute majority.
Macron surprised all of France by calling legislative elections for last June, three years earlier than planned, with the expectation of “accelerate” the political landscape following the victory of the far right in the European elections.
However, the legislative results deepened the uncertainty since none of the three main parties managed to obtain the absolute majority of 289 deputies. The president will not be able to call new elections until July 2025.
Bernard Cazeneuve is emerging as the leading candidate to become France’s new prime minister
Regarding the appointment of Cazeneuv As prime minister, sources close to the president said it is “a possibility but not a certainty.”
The president will then meet with his predecessors François Hollande (2012-2017) and Nicolas Sarkozy (2007-2012).
Bertrand, a figure of the traditional right and president of the Hauts-de-France region, will be received in the afternoon.
According to Macron’s entourage, the head of state would let the start of classes in France scheduled for Monday pass and the appointment of the new prime minister would take place on Tuesday.
Although Cazeneuve’s name has been circulating for several days as a possible new prime minister, he did not ask to take up the post, “but If he does it, it is out of duty and to avoid further difficulties for the country.“, said a source close to him.
Cazeneuve, former Minister of the Interior and Prime Minister of François Hollande’s Socialist government “He is a responsible man of the left who will take into account the political but also economic situation of the country.”“, the same source added.
However, “if it considers that the conditions for a normal, regular and transparent institutional functioning are not met, it will say no,” he said.
Source: Ambito
