French President Emmanuel Macron has initiated cross-party talks to form a 'Government of National Interest' following the collapse of his administration. This move comes after the National Assembly passed a no-confidence vote against the government, led by conservative Prime Minister Michel Barnier, due to disagreements over the social budget. Macron's strategy marks a shift from his previous approach of holding individual meetings with party leaders at the Élysée Palace.
The talks aim to bring together parties willing to compromise, notably excluding the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) and left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI), who have been critical of Macron's leadership. Macron's efforts reflect his desire to stabilize the political landscape, which remains fragmented following snap parliamentary elections that saw the left-green alliance gain a relative majority.
Macron has proposed naming a new Prime Minister within 48 hours, considering candidates like Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and centrist François Bayrou. However, left-leaning factions demand a leftist candidate for the top government position and remain reluctant to engage in talks perceived as a continuation of Macron's policies.
The Socialist Party, part of the leftist Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), is open to negotiations but faces internal divisions. Their alliance with LFI is strained, with Socialist leader Olivier Faure advocating for a compromise under the condition of excluding the far-right. Meanwhile, the interim government plans to introduce a special law to maintain operations based on the 2024 budget until a new stable government is formed.
Macron's initiative seeks to unite a deeply divided parliament and address pressing financial challenges, including an EU deficit procedure. While Macron aims for a broad coalition, the path to consensus remains fraught with political complexities.
