France heads for a new crisis as Macron continues to block the election winners

By Jim Hayes

France is entering into a new phase in its political crisis. Embattled president Emmanuel Macron continues to hold out on allowing last month’s election victors to form a government. France is now effectively without a government.

On Monday Macron slammed the door on allowing a New Popular Front (NFP) coalition government, despite the Front having secured the biggest vote. Headed by France Unbowed and includes The Greens, Communist Party, and what’s left of the Socialist Party.

Adding to the crisis, Marine Le Pen on behalf of National Rally, the far-right party she leads, and major opposition declared that a left government would not be accepted would push for a no confidence motion. Whether this succeeds or not would depend on how far Macron’s own Renaissance party and the traditional conservative Republican Party members are prepared to ditch the principle that the election winner should form the government.

For now, Macron has left the Renaissance party’s Gabriel Attal as caretaker Prime Minister.

Should the self-styled of the political centre parties choose to align with National Rally, they will be proving their true colours as representatives of the French class that considers it has a natural right to rule. They will be seen to be doing this to stop any threat of changing the existing political order.

Photo from CNN: Marine Le Pen who is the leader of France’s National Front

The NFP is furious, and pulled has away from never ending talks which they hold has degenerated into a farce. Led by fiery France Unbowed leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who should be the incoming Prime Minister, and is now calling on France’s politicians for a “firm and strong response,” and for them to support a “motion of impeachment” against President Macron.

Jean-Luc Mélenchon the leader of Drance Unbowed

Mélenchon has agreed to stand aside to facilitate a handover of government to the NFP. Lucie Castets, a 37-year-old former public servant and economist representative of the Socialist Party politician has been put forward instead. Macron has rejected this proposal.

Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure, incensed by this and refusing the an inducement to break away from his NFP partners, said the Socialist Party will back a motion on no confidence in Macron.

Communist party leader Fabien Roussel called for a “grand popular mobilisation” and rejected new talks. Green party leader Marine Tondelier said “the people must get rid of Macron for the good of democracy. He is chaos and instability.”

Tired of waiting 7 weeks for a result, the NFP parties are calling for street protests in a “grand popular mobilisation” of the population for a battle. Unions and community organisations are planning to hit the streets on 7 September. Even major media outlets are urging Macron to allow a left government to be formed. Le Monde, France’s biggest newspaper called on the President to relent “in the interests of democracy,” and in the “absence of another obvious possibility.”

France is in for more turbulent times. What comes will prove whether the political system is capable of meeting the will and needs of the people, or that it will prove to be a means for the protection of the privileges of the powerful and rich.