Live: Macron urges mainstream forces to unite in ‘letter to the French’, angering Leftist alliance

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FRENCH LEGISLATIVE ELECTIONS
Live: Macron urges mainstream forces to unite in ‘letter to the French’, angering Leftist alliance
Lawmakers from the New Popular Front (NFP) have reacted angrily to President Emmanuel Macron’s call for mainstream parties to form a new coalition that could sideline extreme elements on both sides. The NPF – a broad alliance including far-left parties that won the most seats in Sunday’s snap elections – said Macron should accept their pick for prime minister in line with tradition and allow the bloc to form a government. Follow our liveblog for all the latest developments.

Issued on: 11/07/2024 – 08:16

1 min
A general view shows the empty hemicycle of the French National Assembly before the first round of the early French parliamentary elections, in Paris, France, June 27, 2024.
A general view shows the empty hemicycle of the French National Assembly before the first round of the early French parliamentary elections, Paris, France, June 27, 2024. © Benoît Tessier, Reuters
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FRANCE 24
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FRANCE 24
Summary:
In an open letter addressed to the French on Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron called on France’s mainstream political forces to unite to form a centrist coalition since no single bloc won a majority in Sunday’s elections.
Centre-left Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure told France 2 television that Macron must “respect” the choice of French voters and nominate a prime minister from the leftist New Popular Front alliance.

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“The budget happens at the end of September. I hope that between then and now we can remove the element of uncertainty and that we will have more political clarity, but clearly this is not in my domain,” Villeroy told radio network France Info.

Villeroy, who is also a member of the European Central Bank, added it was vital for the French government to reduce the country’s deficit.

“I think that if we had to give a resume of the overall picture of the French economy today, it is resisting well but remains fragile,” he said.

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Macron made a ‘mistake’, Senate President says
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“He got us into trouble, it’s up to him to get us out of it,” Larcher added.

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Macron must ‘respect’ French democracy, left-wing leaders say
Several New Popular Front members on Wednesday reacted to Macron’s letter stating that he needs to recognise the leftist alliance’s choice for prime minister once it has been decided upon, and allow the bloc to form a government.

“The French people have spoken, now we must respect their choice (…) The president must respect his republican duty, respect universal suffrage, and respect the vote of the French,” said Socialist leader Olivier Faure on France 2 television.

“The best he can do for the country at this stage is to allow the group that won the most seats, the New Popular Front, to govern. Any other machinations would be truly problematic and dangerous for democracy,” said Eric Coquerel, a LFI lawmaker on LCI television.

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President Emmanuel Macron ‘seems to be calling for a government of national unity’ in letter to the French
President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday put responsibility on parliament to negotiate a broad coalition reflecting France’s “republican institutions” to break the stalemate following an inconclusive snap election.

“I am asking all political forces who recognise themselves in the republican institutions, the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, a European orientation and the defence of France’s independence, to start a sincere and fair dialogue to build a solid, and by definition pluralist, majority,” Macron said in a written message to voters published in French regional newspapers about the election.

The formulation appeared designed to exclude Marine Le Pen’s far-right RN party, but also implicitly far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon’s France Unbowed (LFI), a big portion of the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance.

FRANCE 24’s Angela Diffley analysed the president’s letter to the French and the political context in which it was published.

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Left-wing New Popular Front says Macron’s letter does not respect will of the voters
The negotiations to form a government will continue this Thursday, as Emmanuel Macron called for a broad coalition of republican forces.

The president, who had remained silent since Sunday night, penned a letter to the French people on Wednesday – an attempt to show he still had relevance in the post-election political landscape.

When it comes to a new prime minister, Macron writes this: “This presupposes that we give the political forces a little time to build these compromises with serenity and respect for each other,” he warned, pleading for a “solid” and “plural” majority with all the republican forces. And, “until then, the current government will continue to exercise its responsibilities and be in charge of current affairs.”

The left reacted with anger, demanding Gabriel Attal’s departure and saying they should have a prime minister from its ranks. Olivier Faure, head of the French Socialist Party (PS), accused Macron of not “respecting the French people’s vote” after the New Popular Front came out on top in the legislative elections, with the rebel Jean-Luc Mélenchon denouncing “scheming” and “the return of the royal veto”.

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5 hours ago
Good morning from Paris as we enter a new day of political talks after Sunday’s shock election results.

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Yesterday’s key developments:
The far-right bloc of National Rally MPs arrived at the Palais Bourbon on Wednesday holding more seats than ever in the lower-house National Assembly.

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday published an open letter to the French calling for mainstream political forces to form a coalition after Sunday’s elections resulted in a hung parliament.
The New Popular Front reacted to Macron’s letter by saying that they, as the largest bloc in the new National Assembly with some 190 seats, are entitled to nominate a new prime minister.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP, AP and Reuters)