Macron already does not have a solid majority in parliament. To change that, he is counting on the support of other factions in the new election. It remains to be seen whether this risky gamble will pay off.
Ahead of the parliamentary elections scheduled at short notice, French President Emmanuel Macron has called on representatives of the Social Democrats, Conservatives and Greens to work with his center camp to form a future government. There is a will to work with all those who do not identify with the alliances of the extreme left and right, Macron said on Wednesday in Paris. “It is this re-foundation of political life that I now call for with great humility and determination,” said Macron.
“I am convinced that social democrats, radicals, environmentalists, Christian democrats, Gaullists and, more broadly, many of our compatriots and politicians who are not caught up in extremist fever, who are gathered around some clear axes of the current majority, can work with these greats and build a new project (…) to govern,” Macron said.
In response to the defeat of his liberal forces in the European elections and the landslide victory of the right-wing nationalists, the president surprisingly dissolved the National Assembly on Sunday evening and announced new elections for the French parliamentary chamber in two rounds for June 30 and July 7. Macron’s presidency is not at stake.
Macron attacked the new political alliances announced by the opposition parties in view of the parliamentary elections. “There are unnatural alliances at both extremes that agree on practically nothing,” said Macron. The alliances were cobbled together, but they do not constitute majorities to govern.
Wave of outrage among the Republicans
The left-wing French camp of communists, greens, socialists and leftists had announced that they wanted to run together. Surprisingly, the head of the conservative Républicains, Éric Ciotti, also announced on Tuesday that he wanted to join forces with the right-wing nationalist Rassemblement National around Marine Le Pen.
The announcement triggered a wave of outrage within Ciotti’s conservative party. Party leaders demanded his resignation and, according to media reports, expelled him from the party in a hasty move on Wednesday. Ciotti had previously instructed employees of the party headquarters to leave and lock it at midday in order to sabotage the meeting to expel him. The former popular party is now facing a breaking point.
How does Macron justify his decision?
Macron justified his decision to hold new elections, which was met with a lot of incomprehension in France, with the political blockade of the government. Since his center camp has not had an absolute majority in the National Assembly for two years and efforts to form coalitions and cross-camp cooperation have failed, the government is blocked, which is dangerous for France. In addition, the opposition has announced a vote of no confidence for the autumn, said Macron.
It is not yet clear whether the president will succeed in securing an absolute majority in the National Assembly with the new elections or whether the right-wing nationalists will be able to gain government responsibility. According to a survey by the Ifop institute, the Rassemblement National has 35 percent of approval, the left-wing alliance 25 percent and the government camp 18 percent. However, since France has a majority voting system, this says nothing about the future distribution of seats in the National Assembly. The representative of a constituency who receives the most votes in the second round of the runoff election will be elected to parliament.
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
