The Next French Difficult Phase: Finding a Prime Minister

"And what do we do now?" it says on the front page of the daily newspaper Le Parisien the day after the second round of the parliamentary election. And that is the big question, when the tension from the election night has subsided. What does France do now?

» Updated:

» Published:

The Next French Difficult Phase: Finding a Prime Minister
Photo: Malin Carlsson/TT

Share this article

"And what do we do now?" is written on the front page of the daily newspaper Le Parisien the day after the second round of the parliamentary election. And that is the big question, now that the excitement from the election night has subsided. What does France do now?

The question of who will move into the prime minister's residence Matignon after outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal remains unanswered.

Attal submitted his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Monday - which Macron refused to accept. Macron believes that the country needs a prime minister to "maintain stability".

Until 8 pm on Sunday evening, many, both in and outside France, believed that the next prime minister would be named Jordan Bardella and come from the far-right party National Rally (RN), which in all polls seemed to be the largest.

Left-wing alliance largest

The left-wing alliance New People's Front (NFP), consisting of the radical left party Unsubmissive France, the Socialist Party, the Ecologists, and the Communists, unexpectedly made a strong advance and snatched first place as the largest alliance ahead of RN and its allies.

Despite the joy on the left, the road ahead is far from smooth and frictionless. Now, a complicated horse-trading between the left and Macron's center alliance awaits, where the two sides must agree on who will become the prime ministerial candidate.

I think it will be a difficult "cohabitation" and the country will not make much progress over the next three years, says Alice Lafont, whom TT meets in Paris' 18th arrondissement.

She believes that the prime minister will come from the left.

I think it could be Olivier Faure (Socialist Party), but it's hard to say.

"Republican front"

The left and center's mobilization made their attempt to create a "republican front" successful.

In several constituencies, there were three possible candidates after the first round. The republican front would more or less force voters to vote for a candidate they might not really want, by having one of the two left or center candidates in constituencies with three candidates withdraw.

It was long uncertain whether it would succeed, since the left and center are far apart in many respects. On both sides, there are those who absolutely do not want to have anything to do with the other side, something that will spill over into the choice of prime minister.

Many whom TT talks to believe that the negotiations between the alliances will be difficult now. One of them is Maurice. He is glad that the political turbulence seems to be calming down.

But it will be hard to find a prime minister, he says to TT.

Tags

Author

TTT
By TTEnglish edition by Sweden Herald, adapted for local and international readers

More news

Spain Arrests 19 for Torture and Murder on Migrant Boat

Spain Arrests 19 for Torture and Murder on Migrant Boat

EU Proposes Sanctions on Israel's Ministers and Trade Restrictions

EU Proposes Sanctions on Israel's Ministers and Trade Restrictions

Denmark Plans to Invest in Long-Range Precision Weapons

Denmark Plans to Invest in Long-Range Precision Weapons

Suspected Shooter's Texts Reveal Concerns Over Weapon and Father

Suspected Shooter's Texts Reveal Concerns Over Weapon and Father

Germany Warns Iran Over Lack of Action to Avoid UN Sanctions

Germany Warns Iran Over Lack of Action to Avoid UN Sanctions

EU Delays Climate Goals Submission Amid Member Disagreements

EU Delays Climate Goals Submission Amid Member Disagreements

Aleksey Navalny Poisoned, Widow Claims Based on New Tests

Aleksey Navalny Poisoned, Widow Claims Based on New Tests

1,600 Tourists Evacuated from Machu Picchu Amid Protests

1,600 Tourists Evacuated from Machu Picchu Amid Protests

Main Suspect in Madeleine McCann Case Released from Prison

Main Suspect in Madeleine McCann Case Released from Prison

Ukraine Reports Over 130,000 Russian Soldiers Killed in War

Ukraine Reports Over 130,000 Russian Soldiers Killed in War

Trump Welcomed by King Charles at Windsor Castle During UK State Visit

Trump Welcomed by King Charles at Windsor Castle During UK State Visit

New Escape Route Opens for Fleeing Gaza City Residents Amid Bombing

New Escape Route Opens for Fleeing Gaza City Residents Amid Bombing

Iran Executes Man Accused of Spying for Israel After Zelenskyj Letter

Iran Executes Man Accused of Spying for Israel After Zelenskyj Letter

NATO Needs Stronger Response to Russian Drone Threat, Expert Warns

NATO Needs Stronger Response to Russian Drone Threat, Expert Warns

Guterres Proposes 15% Cut to UN Budget for 2026

Guterres Proposes 15% Cut to UN Budget for 2026

Bolsonaro Hospitalized in Brasília for Severe Hiccups and Vomiting

Bolsonaro Hospitalized in Brasília for Severe Hiccups and Vomiting

Four Arrested for Projecting Trump and Epstein Images on Windsor Castle

Four Arrested for Projecting Trump and Epstein Images on Windsor Castle

Aid Groups Urge Global Intervention in Gaza Crisis

Aid Groups Urge Global Intervention in Gaza Crisis

Spain Records Deadliest Heatwave Amid Hottest Summer on Record

Spain Records Deadliest Heatwave Amid Hottest Summer on Record

UNICEF: 26000 Children in Gaza Suffer Acute Malnutrition

UNICEF: 26000 Children in Gaza Suffer Acute Malnutrition