French election winners accuse Macron of seizing power
(about 1 hour later)
The French president is refusing to nominate a new prime minister from the state’s most popular left-green alliance
The president has refused to nominate a new prime minister from the left-green alliance that garnered the most seats in parliament
French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to nominate as prime minister the candidate from the country's most popular left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance, saying it would be a threat to “institutional stability,” according to a communique released by the Elysee Palace on Monday.
France’s left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) has expressed its displeasure with President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to rule out nominating its candidate for prime minister after the alliance secured the most seats in the National Assembly following the July election.
The parliamentary election in July gave the left-wing alliance most seats in the National Assembly, but not enough to govern, forcing the president to conduct successive rounds of talks to appoint a new prime minister and form a new government.
Although the alliance won the most seats in the voting, it failed to secure enough to govern, forcing Macron to enter negotiations in order to appoint a new prime minister and form a new government.
As president, Macron is responsible for confirming the new head of the government. However, he dismissed the idea of allowing the left-wing coalition to hold the office of prime minister, leaving the nation in a political deadlock.
The NPF had nominated Lucie Castets, a 37-year-old economist and director of financial affairs at Paris City Hall, as its candidate for prime minister. The NPF is a broad left-wing electoral alliance made up of France Unbowed (LFI), the Socialist Party, the Greens, the Communist Party, and several smaller parties.
“My responsibility is that the country is not blocked nor weakened,” Macron said in a statement, claiming that a left-wing government “would be immediately censored by all the other groups represented in the National Assembly” and “the institutional stability of our country therefore requires us not to choose this option.”
Macron, meanwhile, rejected the candidacy of Castets, claiming that “my responsibility is that the country is not blocked or weakened,” the president said in a statement on Monday. He added that a left-wing government would pose a threat to “institutional stability.”
The parliamentary election in July left 577 seats in the National Assembly divided between the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance with over 188 seats, followed by Macron’s centrist alliance at around 161, and Marine Le Pen’s National Rally at 142. The Republicans received 48 seats, while the remaining 38 were divided between minor parties.
The LFI labeled Macron’s move an “anti-democratic coup,” while its leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon, called for a “rapid and firm response.”
Launched in June as a broad left-wing alliance, the NPF comprises France Unbowed (LFI), the Socialist Party, the Greens, the French Communist Party, and others, comprising the majority of the left wing in France.
The secretary-general of the Greens, Marine Tondelier, said Macron’s decision reflects “dangerous democratic irresponsibility,” adding that the head of state is ignoring the election results.
The alliance nominated 37-year-old economist and director of financial affairs at Paris City Hall, Lucie Castets, as its candidate for prime minister. Following Macron's rejection of her candidacy the LFI leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon, accused the president of creating an “exceptionally serious situation.”
The LFI’s parliamentary group leader, Mathilde Panot, spoke out against “monopolization of power by one man,” urging to initiate impeachment proceedings against the president if he “persists in his denial.”
The secretary-general of the Greens, Marine Tondelier, said the decision is “a disgrace” and “dangerous democratic irresponsibility,” adding that Macron is ignoring the election results.
The NPF was formed for the parliamentary elections, largely as a bid to keep Marine Le Pen’s National Rally out of power. The move paid off as the alliance took 188 seats in the parliament, ahead of Macron’s centrist alliance at 161, and National Rally at 142.
LFI also called for protests to urge Macron to “respect democracy,” and said it would present a motion of impeachment of the president.
