Macron to form new government in mid-August, after Olympics
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The French president has admitted that his centrist party had lost the vote, but he refrained from commenting on a leftist front suggestion for a new PM.
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French President Emmanuel Macron leaves the voting booth before voting in the early French parliamentary election on June 30, 2024. (AP)
French President Emmanuel Macron revealed Tuesday that his departing administration will remain focused on the Olympics in a caretaker capacity until mid-August, following which he will seek to pick a new prime minister.
In an interview for France 2, the president recognized that his centrist party had lost the vote, but refrained from commenting on a leftist front suggestion for a new PM. He also said he would not quit before the conclusion of his tenure.
"This government has prepared the [Olympic] games, and our responsibility is to make sure they go well. I choose stability, this government will continue to deal with current issues. We will focus on the games until mid-August," Macron stated, detailing that the appointment of a new government now would create "chaos".
He urged political parties to cooperate and compromise, emphasizing that neither the Left-Wing Alliance nor the Outgoing Majority can apply their programs. When asked about the Left-Wing Alliance PM candidate, Macron clarified that the issue at hand is not about names.
Meanwhile, the Elysee Palace announced that French President Emmanuel Macron had accepted Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's resignation and directed the present administration to keep addressing current concerns until a new cabinet is constituted.
Attal quit when the presidential party Renaissance chose him to lead its fraction in parliament.
French left agrees on candidate for PM
After weeks of deliberation, French left-wing parties have picked a lesser-known economist as their candidate for prime minister following the hasty elections.
Lucie Castets, chosen by the New Popular Front (NFP), is an economist and senior civil servant with experience "fighting tax evasion and financial crime," as well as pushing for public services, according to a statement from the alliance.
Castets works for the Paris municipal administration and is completely unknown to the general population.
Although the accord appears to have put an end to infighting in the turbulent coalition of Socialists, Greens, Communists, and hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), obstacles remain before Castets can be installed as the leader of a potential new left-wing administration.
The New Popular Front (NFP), a coalition of left-leaning parties, emerged victorious in the final round of voting, defying earlier polls that favored the far-right National Rally (RN) led by Marine Le Pen.
With 182 seats, the NFP leads but lacks an absolute majority in the 577-seat National Assembly. Macron's centrist coalition Together secured 168 seats, while the RN settled for 143.
Castets told AFP that she accepted the nomination "with great humility but also great conviction," seeing herself as a "serious and credible candidate" for prime minister, citing a major goal to "repeal the pension reform" that Macron enabled last year, which led to mass protests in the nation.
The 37-year-old also told AFP that she would also work on "major tax reform so everyone pays their fair share."
In the past, when presidents saw the opposition seize control of parliament, prime ministers proposed by the new majority were accepted.
However, the situation is unclear when the chamber is not controlled by one group or coalition. In a televised interview on Tuesday, Macron will certainly be asked about the left's effort after previously calling for a wide alliance of "republican forces" and a "political truce" during the games.
Macron says Netanyahu welcome to attend Olympics
During the same interview, Macron said that although he strongly disagrees with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister is still welcome to attend the Olympic ceremony in France.
He added that Israeli athletes were also "welcome" to attend, despite requests from some French MPs and the Palestinian Olympic Committee to boycott.
He stated that "Israeli athletes are welcome in our country. They must be able to compete under their colors because the Olympic movement has decided it," adding that it was the "responsibility" of France to protect them and condemning "all those who create risks for these athletes and implicitly threaten them."
Israeli athletes will receive 24-hour protection during the Paris Olympics, French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said in a TV interview on Sunday evening. This announcement follows a call by far-left lawmaker Thomas Portes for protests against "Israel's" participation.
"Israeli athletes will be protected around the clock during the Games," Darmanin said.
La délégation Israélienne fera l’objet d’une sécurisation renforcée par les forces de l’ordre pendant toute sa présence sur le territoire national. pic.twitter.com/HPbO1RAmCu
— Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) July 21, 2024
