The president is left without power and the political centrifugal forces on the right and left in parliament are triumphant. The people of France did not make things easy for their politicians in the elections to the National Assembly. How does it go from here?
President Emmanuel Macron had probably imagined things differently: after the parliamentary elections in France without an absolute majority for the president, the country’s political system is facing a test. In view of the severe loss of mandates, Macron must look for partners for a government majority with his center camp in the National Assembly. The parties on the left and extreme right, which have been significantly strengthened after the election result, will insist on more influence and will adopt a tough opposition course. The bourgeois-conservative Républicains could become a possible partner of the Macron camp, although that is far from certain.
According to the provisional official final result, the Macron camp came to 245 of the 577 seats. The new left-wing alliance Nupes, led by left-wing politician Jean-Luc Mélenchon, won 131 seats in parliament, making it the strongest opposition force. At least 289 seats were needed for an absolute majority. “Slap in the face,” was the headline in the left-leaning newspaper Liberation on Monday.
Macron is without a majority of his own
Of the 15 members of government who ran for election, some lost the runoff and have to vacate their cabinet posts, including Environment Minister Amélie de Montchalin and Health Minister Brigitte Bourguignon. Macron is expected to reshuffle the cabinet shortly.
For the first time in more than 30 years, the French President is now without an absolute parliamentary majority and has to rely on the support of other camps with his government. Governing with coalitions across one’s own political camp and with compromises is less common in France than in Germany. For a possible coalition or cooperation, the presidential party must now approach possible partners in parliament.
“Are we disappointed? Yes,” said government spokeswoman Olivia Grégoire after the second round of the general election. Macron’s electoral alliance is still “the first political force” but has lost strength, she acknowledged. “This is far from what we had hoped for,” admitted Budget Minister Gabriel Attal.
Right national Rassemblement National with gains
However, President Macron was “resolute to act and to make progress in the overriding interest of the French,” said the head of state’s environment, as the BFMTV broadcaster reported on Monday night. The results were “disappointing” in the Elysée Palace, “but do not call into question the result of the presidential election, nor that the presidential camp is leading”. The question is how to proceed now. There is no recipe for this.
The right-wing national Rassemblement National party saw strong growth, with its top candidate Marine Le Pen losing to Macron in the final round of the presidential election. She got 89 seats, a good eleven times as many as before, and is thus the third strongest party in parliament. The predecessor party Front National had last formed its own parliamentary group under changed electoral law in 1986. The hitherto strongest opposition force in parliament and the traditional Republican People’s Party came together with allies to 74 seats, a heavy loss. Voter turnout hit a low of 46.23 percent.
France: “Debates will become more heated”
Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne now wants to try to find a possible coalition. “As the central force in the National Assembly, we have to take on a special responsibility. Starting tomorrow, we will work to build a majority that is capable of acting,” said Borne on Sunday evening in Paris. “We have everything we need to be successful and we will make it together.”
“Tonight we have a new situation,” said Borne about the loss of an absolute majority in the National Assembly. This situation is a risk for the country in view of the challenges at home and internationally. But you have to respect the result and act responsibly. “The French are calling on us to unite in the interests of the country.”
At the same time, the prime minister named the future government’s priorities. From the summer there should be strong and concrete measures to strengthen the purchasing power of the French. Striving for full employment and ecological change are top priorities, the school and health system must be improved. Other priorities are France’s sovereignty in the energy and food sectors. “I have faith in our country,” said the prime minister.
“New coalitions have to be found for every project,” political scientist Etienne Ollion told the AFP news agency. “The debates will become more heated,” he said.
Source: Stern
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