French President Emmanuel Macron will convene party leaders on August 23 for a series of crucial discussions aimed at resolving the political impasse that has followed July’s legislative elections. The talks, set to take place at the Élysée Palace, are part of Macron’s effort to build a stable government amid a fragmented National Assembly.
The recent elections resulted in a hung parliament with no clear majority, leaving France without a new prime minister weeks after the Paris Olympics concluded on August 11. Macron had previously stated his intention to form a new government only after the Olympics, emphasizing the need for a broad coalition.
The upcoming meetings will involve leaders from the National Assembly and Senate, with the goal of establishing a comprehensive majority. Macron’s office emphasized that the discussions are intended to reflect the French people’s desire for a consensus-driven approach to governance.
The left-wing New Popular Front, which emerged as the largest faction from the elections, has proposed economist Lucie Castets as a potential prime minister. Macron is reportedly open to considering Castets if there is broad support for her nomination.
Conversely, Macron’s team is exploring alliances with traditional right-wing and center-left factions, with Xavier Bertrand, the head of the Hauts de France region, frequently mentioned as a candidate for leading a center-focused coalition. Macron has ruled out any coalition involving the hard-left France Unbowed or Marine Le Pen’s far-right.
Since Macron’s decision to dissolve parliament and call for snap elections in June, the country has been operating under a caretaker government led by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. The new government must secure a confidence vote in the assembly to avoid immediate dismissal.
As the discussions approach, analysts remain cautious about whether the successful Olympics will translate into political gains for Macron.
