Some opponents said Macron should fire his prime minister, reconsider his reform plans and abandon his approach to power. While enjoying full control of parliament for the past five years, Macron must now find support from opponents, as voters angry over inflation and perceived indifference brought him to a suspended parliament on Sunday. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register The election result may herald a time of political instability that has not been seen in France for decades. Senior ministers have said the government will continue its work and seek support in parliament whenever a majority is needed. Edouard Philippe, Macron’s former prime minister and influential figure, urged the parties to form a coalition to secure a governing majority. This would be a first time in modern French politics. “For the first time in France, we have to form a coalition, a large coalition of people who spontaneously do not want to cooperate and who promote different political programs,” Philippe told BFM TV. He said he could “imagine” reaching an agreement with the conservative Les Republicains, Philip’s former political family, from which he withdrew after Macron’s first election in 2017. However, the leader of Les Republicains, Christian Jacob, said after his meeting with Macron: “I told the president that it is impossible to conclude a coalition agreement, that would be a betrayal of our voters.” Earlier, Jacob had called the president “arrogant.” But cracks began to appear in his camp. Catherine Vautrin, a member of the Les Republicans who had been cited as a possible choice as Macron’s new prime minister, urged her party to soften its stance. “Do all Republicans share Christian Jacob’s view? I’m not so sure,” he said. “It is pointless to always be in opposition.” Her camp could find common ground with Macron on planned reforms, specifically in terms of retirement legislation, he said. Les Republicains provide the most obvious place for Macron to find support. Their financial platform is largely compatible with that of Macron, including his plans to raise the retirement age by three years to 65. French President Emmanuel Macron shakes hands with Christian Jacob, leader of the French Conservative Party Les Republicains (LR), after their meeting at the Palais des Champs-Elysees, France, June 21, 2022. Mohammed Badra / Pool via REUTERS read more Jacob said his party would be “responsible”, ostensibly opening the door to potentially messy face-to-face negotiations.
“WE ARE LOSING OUR TIME”
The pro-European president, who wants to deepen EU integration, get the French to work harder and build new nuclear power plants, wants this week’s talks with the opposition to “find possible constructive solutions”, the Elysee Palace said. If Macron fails to secure support for the passage of the laws, France could face a long political stalemate that could later force him to call early elections. Jean-Luc Melanson, a hardline left-wing veteran who united the left in an alliance that won the second largest number of MPs, told reporters that Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne had to leave. “We are just wasting our time,” he said. The Elysee said Bourne had submitted her resignation, but Macron had refused to allow the government to continue working. There does not appear to be a quick fix, and from Thursday Macron – who has not spoken publicly since the election – will be detached from a week of international meetings abroad, including EU, G7 and NATO summits.
COMPROMISE
Marin Lepen, whose far-right National Coalition now has 89 deputies, out of eight in the previous parliamentary term, said Macron must listen to what her party has to say and “cannot continue the policy it has led (so far).” ». Olivier For, leader of the Parti Socialiste, which joined the left-wing Nupes bloc before the election, said his party could support some policy proposals – but only if Macron took their ideas into account. “We had a so-called Jupiterian period, when the president decided for himself and where he was not accountable to anyone,” Faure told reporters. “From now on … it is forced to accept a bigger role for the parliament … and it is rather healthy to be accountable, to negotiate, to look for points of agreement.” According to Communist Party General Secretary Fabien Roussell, Macron is considering forming a national unity government and asked him if he would participate. “It’s not something that shocks us – to participate with others in rebuilding France – but it all depends on the project,” Russell told LCI. Sign up now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Register Additional citations by Dominique Vidalon, Ingrid Melander, John Irish, Tassilo Hummel, Written by Ingrid Melander and Richard Lough. Editing by Alison Williams, Angus MacSwan and Richard Pullin Our role models: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
