The final round of national elections were held on July 7 and the results were announced the same night. The New Popular Front, the coalition of the left wing parties got te highest number of seats at 183, followed by President Macron’s coalition at 163 and the rightwing National Rally (RN) of Marie Li Pen at 143. There are other smaller parties also. Since no combination got majority on its own, the New Popular Front staked the claim for the PM’s position and nominated a veteran socialist Lucie Castets. President Macron had detailed discussions with this former civil servant and environment activist about the formation of the new Government.

Ms. Lucie Castets told te President that she was ready to form the Government and she would discuss the programme with Macton’s party about tge need for making some changes, if needed. Castets gave the impression that she would not be rigid about the official programme of the New Popular Front and she would take into account the need for keeping out the far Right National Rally from power.

President Macron had talks with the National Rally leaders also during the day, but this was not conclusive. President will be meeting tge two top leaders of the RN Marie Le Pen and their PM candidate Jordan Bardella on Monday. The RN is not keen on forming the ministry as both Macron’s neo liberal coalition and NFP have more seats in the national assembly and both are committed not to have any truck with RN. Marie Le Pen feels that even if the Macronites and the Left unite to form te government, ut will not last. That will help Le Pen in the Presidential elections in 2027. Le Pen is more interested in preparing for 2027 polls.

Mr Macron’s office said he would name a prime minister based on these consultations, which are aimed at “moving towards the broadest and most stable majority possible.” In effect, there should not have been any problem in ministry formation soon after July 7 results were out, if President Macron’s party supported the Left, te largest group to keep the far right out of power. But in the assembly presidents’s election, Macron’s party defeated the communist candidate by only seven votes by organizing votes from other parties. Now, it has to be seen whether President Macron abides by the July 7 mandate or resorts to some manipulative tactics to retain power and deny the Left the post of their due Prime Ministership.

Ms Castets said that in her meeting with Mr Macron, he “recognised that a message was sent by the French during the elections” but seemed reluctant to allow an opposition party to form a government.’ Marine Tondelier, the national ecretary of the Green Party said ‘We need a response by Tuesday. There are urgent issues and leaving weeks rolling by without facing tem is grave and even irresponsible.”

The New Popular Front, which includes the French Communist Party (PCF), France Unbowed, the Socialists and the Greens, has insisted that the prime minister should come out of their ranks as the largest group. PCF general secretary Fabien Roussel said that the president agreed during the meeting that the New Popular Front is the only one to have formally made the proposal for nominating their Prime Minister.

The NFP is the biggest group and the leader of the largest component Jean Luc Melenchon has urged the President to respect the verdict and invite the Left to form the government. French unbowed the party of Melenchon has 74 seats followed by the Socialists 59 the Greens 28 and the Communist Party 9.

In fact, President Macron made it clear after July 7 elections that Jean Luc Melenchon who heads the largest party of the NFP, does not represent the French republican values and his programmes cannot be accepted by him. It is clear that the NFP PM candidate may be asked by President Macronto bring out more changes in the programme to make that acceptable to him. Jean Luc Melenchon has to agree to that. In all, the situation is still fluid for NFP. If Melenchon takes dilutes his hard line, the NFP’s task will be easier. (IPA Service)