The French Far Right Rejects a Left-Wing Government

French right-wing politicians Marine Le Pen (L) and Jordan Bardella (R) in Paris, Aug. 26, 2024. Photo: X/ @nuntiusx

August 26, 2024 Hour: 7:56 am

The left-wing block insisted that President Macron should appoint Lucie Castets as prime minister.

On Monday, leaders of the French far-right expressed their complete opposition to a potential left-wing government, even if it does not include ministers from the radical party La France Insoumise (LFI).

“We would vote for a motion of no confidence against any left-wing government,” stated the president of the National Rally (RN), Jordan Bardella, alongside Marine Le Pen, after a meeting between the two and President Emmanuel Macron at the Élysée Palace.

Le Pen asserted that even if there are no LFI ministers in a left-wing government, that party and its founder, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, would be the ones “truly running the government.” Bardella argued that a left-wing government would be “a danger to the country’s order and economic life.”

Both directly blamed Macron for the current situation, in which the early legislative elections—called by the president after his defeat in the European elections in June—resulted in a National Assembly without any bloc close to achieving an absolute majority.

“Emmanuel Macron has chosen chaos,” emphasized Le Pen, while Bardella denounced the “political paralysis” the country is experiencing, with a caretaker government in place since the second round of elections on July 7.

🇫🇷 It has now been nearly two months since #French voters went to the polls in snap elections called by President Emmanuel #Macron.

Although Macron's centrist alliance suffered a defeat, his government remains in place.

FRANCE 24's @cloviscasali tells us what's next 👇 pic.twitter.com/OknRmqk7F8
— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) August 26, 2024

Le Pen called for an “extraordinary session” of the National Assembly to quickly discuss measures that address citizens’ concerns, particularly regarding purchasing power.

With the meeting with RN leaders, Macron concluded his round of consultations with political party leaders, although he is set to meet with the president of the Senate, conservative Gérard Larcher, later this afternoon.

Amid speculation about whether the president will extend this series of meetings or announce the appointment of a prime minister, Bardella said that Macron “did not indicate” whether he would continue his consultations or if he had already made a decision regarding a head of government.

Meanwhile, several left-wing party leaders, whose bloc won the most seats in the elections, insisted today that Macron should appoint Lucie Castets, the bloc’s common candidate, as prime minister. For example, the first secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure, questioned, referring to Macron, “by what divine right is it possible for those who lost the elections to decide who governs and who doesn’t?”