The Head of State confirmed on Saturday his “confidence” in the Prime Minister “over the long term”, despite the risk of post-legislative deadlock.
When the French president returns Thursday from the G7 summits in Germany and NATO in Spain, Elisabeth Borne will have to make proposals “for a roadmap” and “for the composition of a new government of action” which will be put in place “in the first days of July”, said Emmanuel Macron in an interview on Saturday with AFP.
Until then, she will consult the parliamentary groups again from Monday, in particular on a possible “government agreement” – or even their participation in a government – as well as on the vote on the next texts of law.
But at Les Républicains, the main formation towards which the president seems to be turning, the new boss of the deputies Olivier Marleix refuses “to serve as a crutch in power”.
“We want to be useful to the French” and “this is what will drive us during the examination of each of the texts”, he repeated to the Sunday newspaper.
Sophie Taillé-Polian, vice-president of the ecologist deputies, also assures that “obviously not”, her group will not join the presidential majority.
Within it, some are skeptical. MoDem boss François Bayrou does not think that “device agreements” or a “coalition” are possible with oppositions.
“Perhaps the sense of persuasion will make things happen…” But the centrist leader believes rather “in a government of goodwill and a majority of ideas”.
– “Narrow margin” –
“Confident but not optimistic”, the LREM deputy Gilles Le Gendre also notes that “obviously the political forces of government are not ready for the grand coalition such as we could dream of on a German model”. However, “there are personalities who have expressed a desire to work” with the majority.
Elisabeth Borne has “fairly narrow room for maneuver”, also notes on FranceInfo Marc Lazar, director of the Sciences Po History Center. Because “it is not in the interest of the parties which have just been elected” to pass an agreement, it risks “deeply dividing them”.
The researcher also underlines the very limited period of time granted to the head of government, while “in all other European countries, when you commit to government contracts, it can last for months”.
On the side of the Elysée, we hope this week for “clarifications” since within the oppositions there are “dissonant voices”, some being “closed” when others show “availability”.
With 245 deputies, Emmanuel Macron obtained the lowest relative majority in the history of the Fifth Republic. But parliamentarians are unhooked one by one, and Elisabeth Borne had 252 deputies on Thursday, 37 votes from an absolute majority.
For the rebellious Eric Coquerel, the president “pretends to control the situation”. “Jupiter wades”, adds François Ruffin.
Their formation, like the National Rally, is excluded by the Head of State from any coalition project because they “do not register as government parties”.
The number 2 of LFI Adrien Quatennens confirmed on Sunday that there was “no possible arrangement” with a government of Emmanuel Macron. And “no risk” in his eyes of a breakup of the left alliance Nupes on the issue.
Nevertheless Fabien Roussel, boss of the Communists, casts doubt: “We will support everything that goes in the direction of defending the purchasing power of the French people” but, he warned on LCI, “we will not be able to participate in a government that plans to increase the retirement age”.
Those of the alliance who would join the government would be in an “individual misadventure”, according to the rebellious Clémentine Autain.
The Nupes is preparing to table “a major social emergency law” and the LR deputies will also put on the table proposals on purchasing power. The government text in preparation proposes a 4% increase in a series of social benefits.
