After the early parliamentary elections, France is looking for a government majority. But President Macron wants to concentrate on something else first.
French President Emmanuel Macron does not want to appoint a new prime minister until after the end of the Olympic Games in his country at the earliest. “Our responsibility is to ensure that the games go well,” Macron said on France 2 in the evening. “It is clear that we will not be in a situation where we can change things until mid-August because we would create chaos.”
During the Olympics, the current centrist government of the Macron camp should remain in office as caretaker. Afterwards, depending on the progress of the talks, it would be his job to appoint a new prime minister, said Macron.
In the early parliamentary elections two weeks ago, the left-wing alliance Nouveau Front Populaire surprisingly came out on top. Macron’s centrist forces fell to second place, while the right-wing nationalist Rassemblement National led by Marine Le Pen came in third. Neither camp has an absolute majority in the National Assembly. It is not yet clear what a government might look like.
Macron calls for compromise
The French President again called on the various political camps to find ways to work together. The French expected them to join forces as they had done before the second round of elections. The left-wing camp and the centre-right forces had formed a coalition of convenience to prevent the victory of the right-wing nationalists.
Less than an hour before Macron’s television appearance, the left-wing alliance of Socialists, Greens, Communists and the left-wing party La France Insoumise had proposed Lucie Castets, a senior civil servant, as prime minister. Macron, however, said it was not about a specific name. “The question is, what majority can develop in the National Assembly so that a French government can push through reforms, pass a budget and move the country forward?”
When asked whether Macron would consider resigning as president if political chaos in France continued, he said that the French people had entrusted him with a mandate. “I will fulfill it in its entirety.”
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.
