After the election victory

Left-wing alliance now looking for a prime ministerial candidate

Jean-Luc Mélenchon wants to govern, but it is questionable whether all parties in his New Popular Front can agree on the controversial far-left leader.

(Bild: APA/AP)

The left-wing New Popular Alliance, which emerged victorious from the French elections, is determined to govern. However, the parties united in the fight against the far-right Rassemblement National have not yet found a joint prime ministerial candidate.

However, this leader is to be presented this week. The alliance must show that it is capable of governing, said the leader of the Socialists, Olivier Faure. The parliamentary group leader of the left-wing populist La France Insoumise, Mathilde Panot, also announced that she would propose a "prime minister and a government" this week.

She once again brought up former LFI party leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who has met with fierce rejection from the other parties involved. "Mélenchon taught the left how to win (...), the New Popular Front exists because of him," Panot told RTL. Green Party leader Marine Tondelier and MP François Ruffin, who has split from the LFI, are also being considered for the post.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal will remain in office for the time being; President Emmanuel Macron has asked him to do so in order to "ensure the stability of the country".

(Bild: APA/AFP/POOL/ALAIN JOCARD)

Mélenchon himself too extreme an ally
However, the many differences could now come to light again. Mélenchon is considered too extreme by many allies. His EU election campaign was pro-Palestinian, he has repeatedly courted autocrats such as Vladimir Putin in the past and has also repeatedly attracted attention with anti-German tones in the past.  

President Macron has a political duty to appoint a prime minister from the largest camp that considers itself ready to govern. However, he does not have to follow this camp's suggestion in every case and can also choose another representative from the camp.