The leader of the LR in the Assembly, Laurent Wauquiez, affirms that his people are “ready to work with all those who will be able” to join them “to advance these legislative reforms”. Indeed, the only legislative pact with Emmanuel Macron would not be enough.
Elected as a member of parliament for the first constituency of Haute-Loire, the president of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Regional Council, Laurent Wauquiez, was appointed president of the “La Droite républicaine” group in the National Assembly, i.e., the non-ciottist Republicans. Since then, he has been working on the constitution of a legislative pact against the New Popular Front – winner of the early legislative elections – but authors of an “electoral hoax” according to his words in Le Figaro.
LR, Macron… and the RN to have influence in the National Assembly?
To achieve a viable legislative pact, Laurent Wauquiez and the right intend to rely on around ten priority texts. If the reforms do not suit Emmanuel Macronthe leader of the LR has already made it clear that the president will have to commit them by referendum. “Four priority proposals” will be extracted from this legislative pact, we can read in the columns of Le Figaro, once they have reached the hands of the executive, it will remain to find support in the hemicycle. Problem, neither LR, nor the Macron camp (Ensemble), are in the majority in the National Assembly. What about the RN? The Le Penist party could well be the key to this Wauquiez-Macron legislative pact because without its support, it would be impossible to pass any text. This agreement could also serve as a commitment not to bring down the government by not voting on possible motions of censure.
And to “unblock France within 100 days” as Laurent Wauquiez indicates, LR intends to rely on two pillars. The revaluation of work by increasing net salaries, and the restoration of authority. Budgetary seriousness without tax increases and the protection of retirees are also themes hammered home by the right. On the other hand, the deputy of Haute-Loire does not intend to go into detail regarding his group’s speech: “There have been too many ambiguities in the past. Small partisan agreements are not up to the subject. We are not here to negotiate positions” he confided to Le Figaro. The fact remains that without the support of the presidential camp, and potentially of the National Rally on certain texts, it will be difficult or even impossible for LR to have any influence in the National Assembly.
“The idea of a parliamentary pact is a step in the right direction”
On the right, the discourse and strategy are simple: prevent La France insoumise from making itself heard. To do this, “we are ready to work with all those who will be able to join us to advance its legislative reforms” indicates the leader of the deputies of La Droite républicaine in an interview given to Le Figaro on July 15, 2024. He intends to “put common sense proposals on the table that correspond to the values” of the Republicans. “The idea of a parliamentary pact (with Emmanuel Macron) is going in the right direction” agrees Philippe Juvin, LR deputy for Hauts-de-Seine and fervent defender of a “government contract” with the President of the Republic. It is clear that, even in the speech of Laurent Wauquiez, attached to the values of the right, order, defense or even work, the non-Ciottist Republicans seem to have “all taken a step towards the other” specifies Philippe Juvin, still in the columns of Le Figaro.
“We all agree to block the far left,” says Véronique Louwagie, LR MP for Orne. In reality, without a majority in Parliament, like the other political groups, Les Républicains would rather be seen as a force for “proposition” in a political sequence that already calls for, and will undeniably call for, consensus in the weeks and months to come.