Outgoing French premier addresses political parties for coalition but excludes far-right, left

By Nur Asena Erturk

France’s outgoing prime minister sent a letter to some political parties to seek the formation of a coalition, broadcaster BFMTV reported Tuesday.

The country’s political process has stalled since President Emmanuel Macron postponed the nomination of a new prime minister and the formation of a new government due to the just-concluded Paris Olympics.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal addressed a letter to the political parties but excluded the far-right National Rally (RN) and the left-wing La France Insoumise (France Unbowed, or LFI), despite the former getting the majority in the June 30 first round of the snap parliamentary elections, and the latter securing the most seats in the National Assembly (lower house of parliament) in the July 7 second round.

The Olympics ended on Sunday, and Attal, who falls in Macron’s centrist alliance, took a step to call for a parliamentary coalition, aiming to “find a new way” in the National Assembly via dialogue, BFMTV said.

The outgoing premier also listed a series of priorities including the strengthening of economic sovereignty, purchasing power issues, accommodation, employment, environment, and security issues.

He vowed to be available to discuss those priorities with those parties.

- Presidential letter

Another letter was addressed to the parties – excluding the RN and the LFI – by the presidential camp, via Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne, who is also secretary general of Macron’s Renaissance party.

He mostly listed the same priorities as Attal but added the “military sovereignty” element, BFMTV reported.

- Political stalling

The political process was largely suspended in late July when the Olympic Games started.

After weeks of struggle and even severe divisions within, the victorious left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NFP) proposed Lucie Castets as the next prime minister on July 23.

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

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

The NFP could win more than 180 seats in the lower chamber of the parliament. The centrist alliance Together for the Republic, which is 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.

The National Assembly has 577 seats, and none of the three primary alliances was able to win an absolute majority of 289 lawmakers.

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.