Expert: Difficult Government Formation Ahead in France

The Left Alliance surprisingly took home the victory as the largest bloc in the French election. But the big question still remains: who will become prime minister? It needs to be someone centrist-oriented, says expert Göran von Sydow.

» Updated: July 16 2024

» Published: July 08 2024

Expert: Difficult Government Formation Ahead in France
Photo: Thomas Padilla/AP/TT

The Left Alliance surprisingly won as the largest bloc in the French election. But the big question still remains: who will become the Prime Minister?

It needs to be someone centrist, says expert Göran von Sydow.

In the second round of the parliamentary election, it became clear that the Left Alliance, New People's Front, is the winner of the election, with over 180 seats in the National Assembly.

The big surprise was that the far-right party, National Rally (RN), led by Marine Le Pen, did not become the largest.

So, who is the Left Alliance, New People's Front?

It's a very diverse movement. The French left has been very divided on many different issues, which has been to their disadvantage in an electoral system that favors cooperation, says Göran von Sydow, head of the Swedish Institute for European Policy Studies (Sieps).

Besides the Left Party, Unsubmissive France, and the Socialist Party, the Greens, Ecologists, and the Communist Party are also part of the alliance.

Not united on key issue

The big question is now who will govern. On that issue, the Left Alliance has so far not been able to agree on a candidate for the Prime Minister's post.

It will need to be someone who is more centrist, who both the Left Alliance and Macron's liberal alliance, Together, can agree on. Either a candidate from the Left Alliance or from the liberal alliance.

At the same time, the leader of the Left's largest party, Unsubmissive France, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, came out yesterday and thought that he himself or their movement, as the largest single party within the People's Front, should lead a government. But many reacted very negatively to that, says von Sydow.

What decided the election

One reason for the Left Alliance's success is that several candidates from both the New People's Front and Macron's Together gave up their candidacies between the first and second rounds, to block the far-right party, National Rally, from winning.

It was surprising how well the cooperation between parties that wanted to make it difficult for National Rally has worked. And that voters mobilized and showed that it was an important election, says von Sydow.

At the same time, one should not forget that the far-right party, with Le Pen at the helm, actually made progress in the election.

Even though they didn't win the election, National Rally did better than in the previous election and made strong progress.

Tags

TTT
By TT - Translated and adapted by Sweden Herald

More news

Back on Earth at 70:
1 MIN READ

Back on Earth at 70: Astronaut Celebrates Birthday with Kazakhstan Landing

Easter Surprise: Zurich Zoo Welcomes
1 MIN READ

Easter Surprise: Zurich Zoo Welcomes New Elephant Calf

Israel's Ambulance Shooting Probe Sparks
3 MIN READ

Israel's Ambulance Shooting Probe Sparks Outrage

Kyiv Residents Skeptical of Russian
2 MIN READ

Kyiv Residents Skeptical of Russian Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Fears

Gaza Ceasefire Talks Stall, Qatar
2 MIN READ

Gaza Ceasefire Talks Stall, Qatar Mediator Expresses Frustration

Pope Francis Calls for Freedom
1 MIN READ

Pope Francis Calls for Freedom of Expression as Key to Peace

Finland Raises Flags to Honor
1 MIN READ

Finland Raises Flags to Honor WWII Evacuees

Snails Become Surprising Lifeline in
2 MIN READ

Snails Become Surprising Lifeline in Crisis-Hit Tunisia

Norway's Easter Divide: 40% Don't
1 MIN READ

Norway's Easter Divide: 40% Don't Believe in Jesus' Resurrection

Record Turnout for Canada's Advance
1 MIN READ

Record Turnout for Canada's Advance Voting as Election Nears

Putin Refuses to Extend Ukraine
3 MIN READ

Putin Refuses to Extend Ukraine Ceasefire

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Eleven Dead in Delhi Building Collapse, Several Rescued

Thousands Rally Across U.S. in
1 MIN READ

Thousands Rally Across U.S. in New Wave of Protests Against Trump

US Conducts New Air Strikes
1 MIN READ

US Conducts New Air Strikes on Huthi-Controlled Areas in Yemen

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Conflicting Reports Emerge on Congo Boat Disaster Casualties

Israeli Attacks in Gaza Leave
1 MIN READ

Israeli Attacks in Gaza Leave at Least 54 Dead, Officials Report

Netanyahu: Hamas Blocks Hostage Deal,
2 MIN READ

Netanyahu: Hamas Blocks Hostage Deal, Protests Erupt in Israel

UK Protests Erupt Over Supreme
1 MIN READ

UK Protests Erupt Over Supreme Court's Gender Identity Ruling

Cat Briefly Ventures into White
1 MIN READ

Cat Briefly Ventures into White House, Reunited with Owner

Russia and Ukraine Exchange Over
1 MIN READ

Russia and Ukraine Exchange Over 240 Prisoners in Rare Cooperation

Skepticism Surrounds Putin's Ceasefire Announcement
2 MIN READ

Skepticism Surrounds Putin's Ceasefire Announcement in Ukraine

Taliban Voices Concern Over Pakistan's
1 MIN READ

Taliban Voices Concern Over Pakistan's Afghan Deportations

Trump's Push to Reshape Federal
2 MIN READ

Trump's Push to Reshape Federal Bureaucracy Raises Power Balance Concerns

Car Workers Question Impact of
5 MIN READ

Car Workers Question Impact of Trump's Tariffs on Jobs

Elon Musk's Growing Family: Inside
3 MIN READ

Elon Musk's Growing Family: Inside the Secret Paternity Agreements

Prominent Tunisian Critics Sentenced to
1 MIN READ

Prominent Tunisian Critics Sentenced to Lengthy Prison Terms

Trump Administration's Demands Letter to
2 MIN READ

Trump Administration's Demands Letter to Harvard Sent by Mistake

US Supreme Court Halts Venezuelan
1 MIN READ

US Supreme Court Halts Venezuelan Deportations After ACLU Appeal

USA and Iran Set for
3 MIN READ

USA and Iran Set for New Nuclear Talks in Oman Next Saturday

Milei's Economic Plan: Argentina Eyes
4 MIN READ

Milei's Economic Plan: Argentina Eyes Strongest Growth in 30 Years

Genre image
1 MIN READ

USA Considers Recognizing Crimea as Russian in Peace Deal Talks

Senator Van Hollen Criticizes El
2 MIN READ

Senator Van Hollen Criticizes El Salvador's "Margarita-gate" Stunt

Hezbollah Leader Qassem Vows to
2 MIN READ

Hezbollah Leader Qassem Vows to Retain Arms Despite Pressure

USA to Relocate 1,000 Troops
1 MIN READ

USA to Relocate 1,000 Troops from Syria in Coming Months

Genre image
1 MIN READ

Congo River Boat Fire Leaves 148 Dead, Over 100 Still Missing

Trump Proposes New Rules for
2 MIN READ

Trump Proposes New Rules for Federal Employees to Enforce His Policies