French far-right plans to vote against possible left-wing government

By Nur Asena Erturk

ANKARA (AA) – The French far-right party National Rally (Rassemblement National or RN) said Monday that it would likely vote against a possible left-wing government.

French President Emmanuel Macron last Friday began meeting with political parties to discuss the formation of a new government, more than six weeks after the second round of snap parliamentary elections on July 7.

Macron hosted RN President Jordan Bardella and former RN president and member of parliament Marine Le Pen following talks with the left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front (NFP), and its prime minister candidate, Lucie Castets, last week.

Following the meeting, Bardella spoke with the media, describing the situation as "political paralysis" and saying the RN is in favor of "a censure vote against a possible New Popular Front government."

Le Pen, for her part, echoed Bardella's comments, saying Macron "chose chaos."

She explained that the RN requested an “extraordinary session” of the National Assembly -- the lower chamber of the parliament -- before nominating a new prime minister, amid the current critical situation.

“It would be good (to have) a prime minister respectful of RN voters,” Le Pen added.

She also stressed that there are solutions, such as holding a "referendum," to break the political blockage.

“The president always has the possibility, in case of blockage of the assembly, to directly ask the French their opinion, and we are of course much in favor (of it),” Le Pen said.

Both Bardella and Le Pen recalled that the RN received ballots from over 10 million votes.

- NFP’s stance

Lucie Castets last Friday hailed Macron for a "rich discussion" about forming a new government.

Castets said the NFP, which won the elections, should form a government and seek coalitions with political partners in parliament, according to broadcaster BFMTV.

First Secretary of the Socialist Party Olivier Faure, for his part, told reporters that Macron “did not announce a precise date (for the nomination of a new premier), but said it would be quick.”

The series of meetings began at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris.

The meetings are expected to result in the nomination of a new prime minister. Nonetheless, no clear date has been set, according to media reports.

The country’s political process has stalled since the president postponed the nomination of a new prime minister and the formation of a new government due to the Paris Olympics that ended in mid-August.

After weeks of struggle and even severe internal divisions, the victorious left-wing alliance NFP proposed Castets as the next prime minister on July 23.

Macron, however, said he would not name a prime minister until the end of the games in mid-August, despite the effort.

He was also criticized for delaying the process and causing instability in the country by accepting outgoing Minister Gabriel Attal’s resignation on July 16, after initially rejecting it on July 8, right after the second round of polls.

Macron dissolved parliament and announced early elections after the RN won more than 31% of the vote in European Parliament elections on June 9, defeating his centrist bloc.

The National Assembly has 577 seats, and none of the three primary alliances managed to secure an absolute majority of 289 legislators.

The NFP could win more than 180 seats in the National Assembly, according to results. The centrist alliance Together for the Republic, backed by Macron, finished second with more than 160 seats, while Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party got over 140 seats despite finishing first in the first round on June 30.

In the first round of the elections on June 30, the RN got 29.26% of the vote by itself (37 seats), a ratio that rose to over 33% when combined with allies.