Macron rejects left-wing candidate for prime minister amid chaos
Emmanuel Macron will not appoint Lucie Castets, a left-wing New People's Front (NFP) candidate, as the new prime minister, the Élysée Palace announced in a statement. The President of France concluded consultations with political party leaders on Monday.
A government based solely on the programs and parties comprising the left-wing NFP would not have a majority in the French parliament, "which would effectively prevent it from functioning," the communiqué published by the Élysée Palace on Monday afternoon reads.
"In light of the views expressed by the political leaders we consulted, the institutional stability of our country means that this option should not be pursued," it added.
Macron faces a new round of negotiations
On Tuesday, Emmanuel Macron will begin a new round of negotiations with group leaders to seek a coalition that would provide stable support for the next government. The Élysée Palace called on left-wing groups, excluding Jean-Luc Mélenchon's far-left France Unbowed (LFI), to collaborate with other parties.
On Monday, LFI representatives firmly opposed the scenario of appointing someone other than Castets as prime minister and announced the initiation of impeachment proceedings against Macron.
On Saturday, Mélenchon suggested in an interview with the TF1 Info television channel that his party's representatives might not join the new left-wing government if it would aid in its formation. Centrist and right-wing parties oppose appointing ministers from this group.
On Monday, Marine Le Pen stated that her group would block any left-wing government.
Political chaos in France
A new government has not yet been formed after the parliamentary elections in France, which concluded on July 7th. Although the NFP, which unites leftist, moderate, and radical parties, won unexpectedly, none of the factions managed to obtain a majority in parliament.
The president declared that he would not nominate a new government during the Olympic Games, which concluded last week, so Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's dismissed government remains in power.
After a few weeks, The left, which could not agree on its candidate for the prime minister's office, nominated Castets for this role. She has been working at the Paris City Hall, where she handled the capital's finances, and is not affiliated with any political party.
