French President Emmanuel Macron rejects the resignation of his Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne.
On Tuesday, talks will begin to secure the parliamentary majority that Macron lost in the parliamentary elections on Sunday.
Republican leader Christian Jacob, far-right National Assembly Marine Le Pen and other party leaders will meet Macron in the coming days as he tries to find a way to gain majority support in the National Assembly. If the president does not succeed, it will be difficult to implement the reforms he has planned for his second term, including welfare reforms and raising the retirement age.
“Stick to the mission”
According to the President’s Office, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne has offered to resign after the failure of the election, but Macron is said to have rejected this. Even if she stays in her post, it is likely after the election that a government reshuffle will eventually approach.
Macron believes that the government needs to “stick to the mission and act”, and will now seek “constructive solutions” to the political stalemate, says one of his employees who is not named.
The goal is to “build solutions to serve the French,” according to the president’s office.
Inte Mélenchon
Olivier Faure, leader of the Socialist Party PS and Fabien Roussel, who leads the old Communist Party PCF – both part of the left-wing alliance Nupes – will also meet Macron. Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon is so far not scheduled for talks.
Emmanuel Macron’s coalition Together still has the most seats in the National Assembly after Sunday’s election, but lacks dozens of seats to have a majority. Instead, Mélenchon and Le Pen made great strides.