President Macron after returning from the NATO summit in Washington, made his position clear in a letter published in French media on Thursday that nobody has won the national elections on July 7 and the parties staking to form the new government have to adhere to ‘republican institutions, the rule of law, parliamentary norms, a pro- European orientation and the defence of French independence’ to build a compromise.

The strong letter was meant for the New People’s Front leaders who urged the President Macron to appoint the Prime Minister from NFP which got the largest number of seats 182 in the elections. NFP was followed by Macron’s coalition with 163 seats and the third position was held by Marine Le Pen’s far right party National Rally (RN) with 143 seats. The national assembly has a total number of 577 seats. A coalition of NFP and the Macron’s centrists will make the total 345 seats- much more than the required majority of 289 seats.

In fact, President Macron made it clear earlier that Jean Luc Melenchon who heads the largest party of the NFP, does not represent the French republican values and his programmes can not be accepted by him. Melenchon’s France Unbowed got 74 seats, largest among the NFP partners, followed by the Socialists 59, Greens,28 and the Communist Party 9. Other right parties have 68 seats, other left groups 11 seats and others 10 seats.

Jean Luc Melenchon who contested against President Macron in 2022 presidential elections but lost narrowly, is known for his far left views. His party favours withdrawal of France from NATO and nationalization of many key sectors of the French economy. He has differences with the Socialists and the Communists also. In fact, soon after the united opposition to Macron under Melenchon in 2022 elections, the left alliance broke up and only on the eve of the recent national elections, the left parties entered into a quick alliance and formed the NFP to fight the far right party RN of Marine Le Pen so that France does not come under the fascist rule.

That objective has been achieved. but the party wise tally is such that no anti-right stable government is possible without an understanding between the NFP and President Macron’s coalition which are having big difference over the policy issues, both domestic and foreign. As per the constitution, President Macron has the powers to appoint Prime Minister after elections, but this PM has to have the majority support of the assembly. If the NFP PM candidate is not able to get majority support of the elected assembly, President Macron can continue with his present government with his own Prime Minister functioning till the stalemate ends.

However, there is a test for the NFP on July 18 when the new French national assembly meets and the president of the assembly is elected. The assembly president has wide powers in conducting business in the house .This position is important in the present fluid situation in French assembly. The rule is that the assembly president will be elected by majority. If in the first two rounds, no contestant gets majority, in the third and final round, the person with the largest number of votes will be elected.

The nature of alliance in the election of the president of assembly on July 18 will be an indicator of the future shape of the government in France. For the time being, the RN of Le Pen is just observing and hoping that the NFP-Macron talks will fail and the Left and Macronites will start fighting again. If this continues, Li Pen hopes to sweep the Presidential elections in 2027.

Therein lies the real threat for the French people. The NFP partners have to do their best to build the coalition with the centrists by making some historic compromise in the interest of keeping out Le Pen from power in 2027 elections. Melenchon has to dilute a bit his programme to pave the way for a stable coalition till the next presidential elections.

In fact, the best course for the Left will be to choose any other senior leader as the PM candidate with the promise that Melenchon will be the presidential candidate of NFP in 2027 elections. This great opportunity after July7 elections should not be squandered. The far right advance has been halted for the time being but any failure of the Left and Centrists to remain united, will only facilitate the return of far right with more vigour. (IPA Service)