French President Emmanuel Macron hosted Marine Le Pen, the figurehead of the far-right National Rally (RN) party, for talks on Monday. This meeting comes at a time of intense pressure on Macron to finally appoint a prime minister following the inconclusive parliamentary elections in July. The elections resulted in a hung parliament, with no single party securing a majority, leaving France in a state of political deadlock.
The National Assembly, France’s lower house, is now divided among three main blocs: the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance of left-wing parties with over 190 seats, Macron’s supporters with around 160 seats, and the far-right National Rally with 140 seats. None of these blocs are close to the majority needed (289 seats out of 577) to form a government.
Since the elections, the left-wing parties have pushed for Macron to appoint one of their own as prime minister, arguing that they have the largest number of seats and therefore the right to form the government. They have even proposed a candidate for the role, 37-year-old economist Lucie Castets.
Macron, however, has delayed appointing a new prime minister, opting to keep the current caretaker government in place while he searches for a candidate with broad support who can avoid being immediately toppled in a confidence vote. The pressure on Macron to appoint a prime minister is mounting, however, as the deadline to present a draft budget for 2025 looms just over a month away.
In an attempt to find a consensus candidate, Macron has invited party leaders for talks at the Elysee Palace since Friday. However, all parties have remained steadfast in their positions, with the NFP alliance insisting on their right to implement their spending plans. The Socialist party chief, Olivier Faure, has even criticized the talks as a “show where the dice are loaded” against the left.
Meanwhile, other parties, including Macron’s allies, conservatives, and the RN, have vowed to vote against any left-wing government. This deadlock is further complicated by the upcoming 2027 presidential election, in which Macron cannot run again. This political climate seems to be discouraging compromise, as many party leaders appear more focused on demonstrating their ideological purity to voters in the long run-up to the 2027 election.
The meeting between Macron and Le Pen highlights the complex and challenging political landscape facing France. As the pressure mounts on Macron to resolve the political stalemate, the country’s future direction remains uncertain.
