The Indian Express (Delhi Edition)
Post- poll turmoil: French left seeks to rule but centrists demand role
LEADERS FROM the left- wing bloc that came first in France’s legislative election and the runner- up centrists have engaged in a frenzied race to be first to cobble together a viable government. The unexpected outcome of the July 7 snap election has plunged France into uncertainty just before the Paris Olympics, with no obvious path to a stable government.
The left- wing New Popular Front ( NFP), which has been holding a series of talks, said it intended to govern according to its tax- and- spend programme and that it merely needs a bit of time to organise itself. It has said it aims for a deal by the end of this week or early next week.
“There are countries that have a culture of this ( putting together a government with no majority) and take six months to form a government,” Boris Vallaud, a Socialist lawmaker whose name is one of those mentioned as a possible prime minister, told Reuters.
“We are working on finding ways and means to change the lives of French people ... Is it simple? No. Is it necessary? Yes,” Vallaud said. But the centrists loyal to President Emmanuel Macron have laid claim to a role.
“We are getting in touch with people across the board,” one centrist lawmaker said. After a meeting of the centrist group, Renaissance lawmaker Pierre Cazeneuve told Reuters: “We have reaffirmed our red lines: No deal with France Unbowed and no deal with the National Rally ( RN).” Meanwhile, overtures from centrists have so far been rebuffed by NFP members who have rejected the idea of breaking up their loose alliance. “... I'm thinking about leftleaning Macronists who might be open to joining us. We’d be open to that," Johanna Rolland, the Socialist mayor of Nantes, said.