The Ruling Coalition Exploits Divisions in NFP's Internal Power Struggle
The new French National Assembly is set to open in three days, but the formation of the new government remains shrouded in uncertainty.
According to the daily Le Monde on the 15th (local time), the National Assembly formed by this general election is scheduled to open on the 18th. On that day, the parliamentary leadership will be elected, and the official declaration of parliamentary groups will take place. On the 19th, the secretariat will be established, and on the 20th, standing committees will also be formed.
However, even a week after the general election, the government formation has yet to take shape.
The left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP), which was confident of producing the prime minister as the party with the most votes, has been unable to reach a conclusion due to internal conflicts. This is due to tensions between the largest faction within the NFP, the far-left Unbowed France (LFI), and the second-largest faction, the Socialist Party.
LFI pushed for R?union Governor Huguette Bello as the prime minister candidate. They chose an external figure, judging that putting forward an LFI member would likely be rejected.
However, the moderate left-leaning Socialist Party and the Green Party did not agree to appoint Governor Bello as the prime minister candidate. Facing opposition from the two parties, Governor Bello announced on the 14th that she was declining the prime minister candidacy.
LFI accused Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure of opposing other candidates because he wants to become prime minister himself. In a statement released that afternoon, LFI said, "We will suspend discussions on this matter (government formation) until the Socialist Party withdraws its veto against all candidates except their own, rejects any form of agreement with Macron's camp, and clearly demonstrates its willingness to implement the NFP's pledges."
On the other hand, the Socialist Party rebutted, stating, "We clearly affirm that we have no intention of systematically rejecting the candidates proposed by the NFP." Additionally, the Socialist Party, Green Party, and Communist Party expressed to LFI their desire to nominate a civil society figure as the prime minister candidate.
In response, the pro-government camp is targeting the Socialist Party and others within the NFP to exploit divisions and build a Republican Front majority in the parliament. The pro-government camp aims to unite moderate parties, excluding the far-left and far-right extremes, to form a majority called the Republican Front. Interior Minister G?rald Darmanin proposed, "If the Socialist Party breaks with the NFP, we can work with a republican, rational, and secular Socialist Party."
Currently, the right-wing Republicans are likely to ally with the pro-government camp, but since the Republicans are demanding the prime minister position as a condition for the alliance, even if the Republican Front is formed, there is a high possibility of power struggles between parties.
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