French President Emmanuel Macron has dismissed proposals from the left-wing alliance (New Popular Front) to form a government, citing the need for “institutional stability,” according to a statement from the Elysée Palace.
With the announcement on August 26, French democracy continues to move into uncharted territory, with an unpopular president and a caretaker government that has now been in place for 42 days, a record for the Fifth Republic.
Emmanuel Macron’s confidence rating remains at one of its lowest levels since 2017: 25 per cent according to the latest poll.
Macron argued that a government formed almost exclusively by the New Popular Front, the alliance with the highest number of MPs, would face immediate censure from all other groups in the National Assembly.
According to the President’s advisers, appointing a government that would likely be overthrown would mean him failing in his duty to ensure the stability of the country.
The major parties in the National Assembly, including the National Rally, the Republicans and Macron’s own alliance, have all signalled their intent to censure a left-wing government. Macron’s announcement was met with strong opposition from left-wing leaders and those in his own camp.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of hard-left party La France Insoumise, condemned Macron’s decision on X, stating that it had created “a situation of exceptional gravity”.
He announced that his party would initiate an impeachment motion against the President and emphasised the need for “a swift and firm response.” Mélenchon also vowed La France Insoumise would censure any right-wing government and called for a united defence of democracy.
France’s hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI) party has threatened to launch impeachment proceedings against President Emmanuel Macron. https://t.co/caTJGFsT3f
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) August 19, 2024
Marine Tondelier, leader of the Green party, also criticised Macron’s statement as a “disgrace”, accusing him of being “dangerously irresponsible” by dismissing election results and dissolving the parliament without consultation.
Sacha Houlié, co-founder of the Youth with Macron movement and national delegate for Macron’s original En Marche party, now Renaissance, had called for the President to appoint a left-wing prime Minister because the Left won the most seats in the legislative election.
Houlié had already opted to break away from Renaissance in parliament.
Gérard Arnaud, former diplomat and French ambassador also took aim at Macron’s decision.
“It is not up to the President of the Republic to form a parliamentary majority. It is up to the prime minister to do so, whether it is on his government’s programme or text by text. There is confusion of genres,” he said on X.
The National Rally is urging the President to resign.
“If Emmanuel Macron were truly upholding the values of the Fifth Republic, he would have already stepped down,” declared National Rally MP Jean-Philippe Tanguy.
The Left is threatening to take to the streets. Communist leader Fabien Roussel has called for widespread public demonstrations in response to Macron’s actions.
La France Insoumise echoed this sentiment, stating: “The gravity of the situation demands a decisive response from French society against the outrageous abuse of autocratic power to which it is being subjected.”
Lucie Castets, the left-wing candidate for prime minister, warned that public anger was mounting.
“Anger. That’s what millions of us are feeling this morning. Emmanuel Macron is telling us that elections are worthless. So democracy means nothing to the President? That’s extremely dangerous” she said.
Macron announced on August 16 that he would decide who will become France’s next prime minister after meeting party leaders.
French President Emmanuel Macron has said he will decide who will become France’s next prime minister after meeting party leaders and the heads of the country’s parliamentary groups next week. https://t.co/zeRe3GyikO
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) August 16, 2024
