French President Emmanuel Macron is set to engage in discussions with key political figures in an effort to establish a new government following the recent legislative elections that resulted in no single party securing a majority in the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament.
The meetings with leaders of France’s main political parties are scheduled to take place on Friday and Monday at the Elysee presidential palace, with the aim of achieving the broadest and most stable majority possible.
According to Macron’s office, the appointment of a prime minister will be determined based on the outcomes of these consultations.
In the legislative elections held last month, a leftist coalition known as the New Popular Front emerged as the largest group in the National Assembly, followed by Macron’s centrist alliance and the far-right National Rally.
The absence of a dominant political bloc has raised concerns about the possibility of a hung parliament and political gridlock, a situation unprecedented in France’s modern Republic.
The New Popular Front has asserted its claim to the prime ministerial position as the largest group, nominating civil servant Lucie Castets for the role.
Meetings on Friday will involve discussions with representatives from the New Popular Front, which includes the hard-left France Unbowed, the Socialists, and the Greens. Centrists and conservatives are also scheduled to meet with Macron on the same day, while National Rally leaders are expected to attend on Monday.
Macron has emphasized the importance of ensuring a parliamentary majority behind the prime ministerial candidate to guarantee stability and prevent potential no-confidence votes.
Several names have been floated in the media as potential candidates for the prime minister position, including Bernard Cazeneuve, Xavier Bertrand, and Michel Barnier, as Macron seeks to form a coalition spanning the center-left to the traditional right.
There is no fixed timeline for Macron to announce a new prime minister, as he holds the sole authority to make the appointment under the French Constitution.
Macron has indicated that the outgoing centrist government will continue in a caretaker capacity to manage current affairs, particularly in light of the recently concluded Olympics.
