No clear figures have been revealed about a possible long-term prime minister. Macron says he will wait to make a decision on his next steps and heads to Washington this week for a NATO summit. New lawmakers can begin appearing in Parliament on Monday and their first new consultation will begin on July 18.
Three giant political blocs emerged from the election, but none of them comes close to a majority of at least 289 seats out of 577. The National Assembly is the giant of the two houses of the French Parliament. It has the final say in the legislative procedure opposed to the Conservative-ruled Senate. Although this is not unusual in other European countries, elegant France has never known a parliament without a dominant party. Such a scenario requires lawmakers to build a cross-party consensus to agree on the government’s positions and legislation. Turbulent French politics and deep divisions over taxation, immigration, and politics in the Middle East make this task especially difficult. This means that Macron’s centrist allies will not enforce their business-friendly policies, adding their promise to reform unemployment benefits. It can also make it difficult to adopt a budget.
It is possible that Macron will simply seek a deal with the moderate left to create a non-unusual government. Such negotiations, if they take place, are expected to be very complicated because France does not have a culture of such an agreement. The agreement could simply take the form of a loose and deformed alliance that would most likely be fragile.
Macron has said he will not work with the far-left France Insoumise party, but could eventually join the Socialists and Greens. However, they may refuse to accept it. Last week, his government suspended a decree that would have restricted painters’ rights to receive unemployment benefits, which was interpreted as a gesture toward the left. If he fails to reach a political deal, Macron can also simply appoint a government of experts unaffiliated with any political party. matches. Such a government would probably basically deal with day-to-day affairs similar to how France works. To complicate matters: each of those features would require parliamentary approval.
The left has been riven by divisions in recent months, especially after Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7. Francia Insumisa has been harshly criticized by other more moderate leftists for its stance on the conflict. Far-left leaders have strongly condemned the conduct of the war between Israel and Hamas and accused it of carrying out genocide against the Palestinians. They have been accused of anti-Semitism, which they categorically deny.
The Socialists ran independently in last month’s European election, winning about 14% of the vote, compared to less than 10% for undefeated France and 5. 5% for the Greens. However, Macron’s resolve to call early legislative elections led left-wing leaders to temporarily agree to form a new coalition, the New Popular Front. Their joint programme promises to raise the minimum wage from 1,400 to 1,600 euros, withdraw Macron’s pension reform that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 and freeze the costs of essential food products. Need and energy. All this worries the money markets.
Prime Minister Gabriel Attal announced his resignation on Monday. He also declared his willingness to remain in his job during the next Olympic Games in Paris and for as long as necessary. An interim government would deal with existing issues pending further political negotiations. Macron’s workplace says he will “wait for the new National Assembly to be organized” before making a resolution on the new government. There is no transparent timetable for when Macron will have to name a prime minister, nor is there a corporate rule that he will have to name a prime minister from the largest party in parliament.
The president’s term runs until 2027 and he has said he will step down until the end. Without a majority and without the possibility of implementing his own projects, Macron emerged weakened from the elections. According to the French Constitution, it still has secure powers in matters of foreign policy, European affairs, and defense and is guilty of negotiating and ratifying foreign treaties. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces and holds the nuclear codes.
It is imaginable that the new prime minister is unable or unwilling to seriously question Macron’s defense and foreign policy powers and instead focuses on domestic policy. The prime minister is guilty before Parliament, heads the government and introduces bills.
(With contributions from agencies)
Also read: The French far right did not achieve a majority in the parliamentary elections | What does this mean for Macron?
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