Macron Meets French Party Leaders to Discuss Prime Minister Appointment

By Elizabeth Pineau and Ingrid Melander

PARIS – France’s left-wing parties expressed their desire to form the next government to President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, as he commenced discussions about potential prime minister candidates nearly seven weeks after the parliamentary elections yielded inconclusive results.

Following his meeting with leftist leaders, Macron remained silent publicly, continuing to disregard their demands. He pointed out that the New Popular Front alliance, which secured the most votes in early July, still fell short of an absolute majority.

Lucie Castets, a relatively unknown senior civil servant selected by the left as their prime ministerial candidate, stated post-meeting, "We told him that it was up to the political force that came out first (in the election) – the New Popular Front – to form a government."

After a period of escalating tensions between competing political factions, leaders of the left appeared slightly more optimistic, indicating that Macron acknowledged the need for change, though the specifics of that change remain unclear.

As Macron prepares to meet with centrists and conservatives on Friday and the far-right on Monday, the left’s representatives are hoping for a swift response following these consultations.

The next prime minister will face significant challenges, including securing parliamentary approval for the 2025 budget amid pressures from the European Commission and financial markets to reduce the national deficit.

The question of who will take on the prime minister role, and whether they can garner support from the fragmented parliament for reforms, remains uncertain, as there are currently no visible efforts towards forming a stable coalition.

Macron’s decision to call a snap parliamentary election did not yield the expected results, resulting in his centrist coalition losing numerous seats and leading to a hung parliament.

He has urged political leaders to forge alliances beyond party lines to create a government with a solid majority, with sources close to Macron suggesting that the current power dynamics favor the center or center-right.

Macron is known for his tendency to appoint unexpected prime ministers. According to the French Constitution, he has the authority to select anyone, though that individual must be able to withstand no-confidence votes from the opposition.

Potential candidates being discussed include conservative regional president Xavier Bertrand and former Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve. Additionally, Karim Bouamrane, the Socialist mayor of a struggling suburb of Paris, has emerged as another possible contender.