He did not accept the idea of having a left-wing coalition electing a new PM after snap polls, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday.
Instead, he insisted that fractured parliament parties must form broad coalition after Olympics in Paris.
“Surely, we need to be focused on Games up until mid-August,” Macron said during an interview with France 2.
Macron added: “From then… it will be my responsibility to name a prime minister and entrust them with the task of forming a government, with the broadest backing possible.”
Who is the candidate for the Left?
France’s leftist New Popular Front (NPF) coalition, which won most seats in parliament this month, made its pick for prime minister about one hour before Macron spoke in his televised interview. Financial crime expert Lucie Castets has been put forward as NPF’s candidate for Prime Minister.
Castets currently works as finance director at Paris City Hall. She graduated from France’s elite civil service school Ecole Nationale d’Administration in 2013 but has no party political background whatsoever.
“This is not about who Castets is,” Macron told France 2. “This is not about any name. It is about what majority can emerge out there (at National Assembly).”
“We cannot change anything before Mid-August because it would be chaos,” added Macron. The Paris Olympics coming up this week and running until August 11 pose serious logistical and security challenges for France.
Why has France entered into a political crisis?
France has been locked in parliamentary stalemate since snap election was held.
None of the political parties secured outright majority in the Lower House of Parliament which roughly consist of three blocks; Far right National Rally led by Marine Le Pen; Centrist allies with Emmanuel Macron; and Leftist New Popular Front that had the highest number of seats at national assembly elections.
Four parties under NPF have spent weeks arguing over who should be nominated as the Prime Minister.
The power of nomination for prime minister lies with Macron, who is mandated to stay until 2027. Nonetheless, such a candidate would need sufficient support from legislators to avoid a vote of no confidence.
