Macron Rules Out Left-Wing Government for France
Macron Rules Out Left-Wing Government for France
The Facts
1France's Pres. Emmanuel Macron announced on Monday his refusal to appoint Lucie Castets from the leftist New Popular Front (NFP) coalition, which has about a third of the seats in the National Assembly, as prime minister.
2This comes as the leaders of the right-wing National Rally (RN), Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella, warned Macron that a vote of no confidence would be put forward if a leftist government was installed.
The Spin
The leftist bloc may have agreed on Lucie Castets as their candidate for prime minister, but Macron has a constitutional duty to ensure the stability of the country. If he were to appoint Castets, all other groups would form a majority to vote a motion of no-confidence against her government — and that's definitely not what institutional stability looks like.
That Macron and his centrist allies are still in denial doesn't affect the fact that the French people have given a clear mandate to the leftist NFP. Therefore, his moves to deny the largest alliance its chance to form a new government and grab power through covert plots indicate his undemocratic disregard for the popular vote.
Macron is on a dangerous path against both the most voted party — the right-wing National Rally — and the largest group — the NFP — in a desperate power grab after his camp suffered a massive defeat in legislative elections. As he does so, he denies democracy and undermines the republic's institutions and the sovereignty of the people.
