French National Rally seeks prime minister role without majority

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
1 Jul 2024 16:15

Despite lacking an absolute majority, France's National Rally party plans to nominate leader Jordan Bardella as prime minister if they gain sufficient support from other lawmakers.

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Far-right National Rally Party President Jordan Bardella arrives to deliver his speech after the first round vote of the legislative election, on Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Paris. (AP)

National Rally Vice-President Sebastien Chenu stated that France's right-wing National Rally party, which emerged victorious in the first round of the parliamentary elections, is prepared to nominate its leader Jordan Bardella as prime minister. This move would occur even without an absolute majority in parliament, provided they secure sufficient support from other lawmakers.

"If support [in parliament] can indeed be found, we will assume our responsibility to the French people," National Rally Vice-President Sebastien Chenu told the France 2 broadcaster following the party's parliamentary win in the first round, adding that his party could receive support from lawmakers from other parties, who "might want the National Assembly not to be blocked."

It's important to highlight that Bardella had declared before the first round of elections that he would not accept the position of prime minister unless his party and its allies secured an absolute majority of 289 seats.

From blocs to ‘cohabitation’

French President Emmanuel Macron called for a "broad" democratic alliance against the far-right after the National Rally party won the first round of the legislative elections.

France's far-right emerged victorious on Sunday in the first round of the pivotal legislative elections, with President Emmanuel Macron's centrist forces trailing in third place behind the left, following the highest voter turnout in over four decades, according to estimates.

However, it remains uncertain whether Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN) party will secure an absolute majority in the new National Assembly in the July 7 second round and secure the prime minister position.

Macron had called for snap elections after the RN overwhelmingly defeated his centrist forces in the European Parliament elections earlier this month.

"Faced with National Rally, the time has come for a broad, clearly democratic and republican alliance for the second round," he said, according to a press release.

Macron also voiced that the high number of those who voted reflected "the importance of this vote for all our compatriots and the desire to clarify the political situation."