French President Emmanuel Macron is due to meet national political leaders to discuss forming a “government of general interest”.
Two notable absentees from the talks set for 2 pm on December 10 are the hard-right National Rally (RN) and the hard-left La France Insoumise (LFI), whom Macron has excluded for what he described as their refusal to “compromise”.
This move seems to observers to be designed to consolidate support among more moderate factions, with Macron’s strategy likely aimed at fracturing existing parliamentary blocs and reshaping alliances.
His exclusion of LFI has stirred tension within the left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NFP).
NFP has accused its Socialist Party allies of undermining the coalition by cosying-up to Macron’s centrist agenda.
LFI argued that the Socialists were positioning themselves to abandon the alliance in favour of collaboration with Macron’s government.
In a press release on X on December 9, Socialist leader Olivier Faure reiterated his party’s demand for a left-wing French prime minister.
He also signalled an apparent willingness to work with other forces in parliament, potentially leaving the door open to compromise.
Faure hinted that any agreement would hinge on a “genuine shift in political direction” from Macron.
The Socialists have emerged as potential kingmakers for Macron’s next government. They have advocated for a “non-censure” deal that would ensure stability and prevent a new administration from being toppled in a no-confidence vote, as happened to former prime minister Michel Barnier’s government.
France’s National Assembly has ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier, with Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and La France Insoumise finding 331 votes out of 577 in a no-confidence motion. https://t.co/xuzL0tDC1w
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) December 5, 2024
While Macron’s gambit may create a more stable coalition, it risks increasing the appeal of excluded parties such as the RN, many believe.
By keeping RN out of the talks, Macron has reinforced the party’s status as political outsiders, a role that has historically resonated with their base.
According to a recent report by the newspaper Le Monde, RN star player Marine Le Pen’s group considered the exclusion a symbolic “opposition medal” from the President.
Jordan Bardella, leader of the RN, has criticised Macron’s exclusionary approach, stating: “Our voters are not second-class citizens. How can we form a government of ‘general interest’ while ignoring the voices of 11 million French voters?”
Bardella also accused Macron of trying to consolidate a centrist “super-party” from the Conservative Republicans party under Laurent Wauquiez to the Socialist Party.
The president has yet to reveal his choice candidate for prime minister and pressure is mounting.
Pierre Moscovici, president of France’s Court of Auditors, urged Macron to move quickly, warning on France Inter radio on December 10 that prolonged uncertainty could exacerbate economic, political and financial instability.
If Macron succeeded in building a government of general interest, it would leave LFI and RN as the sole opposition forces.
This strategy could serve LFI. Its leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon would probably welcome the failure of a new government, which would likely spur the prospect of an early presidential election ahead of the one due in April, 2027.
LFI has continued its call for Macron’s resignation.
“We will make Macron leave. He will leave. Our impeachment motion will be voted on. We will resubmit it until it is adopted,” said Mélenchon on December 9.
A grand coalition of moderate forces would still need to find consensus on major issues such as tax reforms, pension restructuring and migration policy.
These contentious topics could place damaging strain on such an alliance and potentially lead to its collapse in parliament.
The collapse of the French Government following a no-confidence vote backed by the hard-left and hard-right has plunged France deeper into political chaos. https://t.co/Svzs0Jbbje
— Brussels Signal (@brusselssignal) December 6, 2024
