Negotiations are continuing on all sides on Tuesday, July 9, two days after the early legislative elections that failed to produce a clear majority in the National Assembly. All eyes are focused on the New Popular Front, which is arriving in force in the chamber and has promised to propose “within the week” a candidate for Matignon from the coalition. The Macronists, who came in second with nearly 160 seats and who are also meeting on Tuesday morning, intend to take advantage of the breach opened by the political crisis.
Key information to remember
⇒ The left arrives in force at the National Assembly this Tuesday
⇒ Jean-Luc Mélenchon says he is ready to govern
⇒ Gabriel Attal is to bring together the Renaissance deputies on Tuesday morning
Repeal the pension reform by decree? The obstacles on the road to the NFP
Jean-Luc Mélenchon has declared that the alliance of left-wing parties will be able to cancel by decree the pension reform that came into force on September 1, 2023. A very hasty statement, explains our journalist Thibault Marotte. Read his analysis.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise, on July 7, 2024 in Paris
© / afp.com/Sameer Al-Doumy
“An NFP Prime Minister? I wouldn’t give him long before he’s overthrown”
Who will be appointed to Matignon? When? With what majority? For how long? Is a coalition possible? On the basis of what program? For Arnaud Benedetti, editor-in-chief of the Revue politique et parlementaire, “considering today that the New Popular Front is in the majority seems to be a hasty interpretation of the situation”. The associate professor at the University of Paris-Sorbonne answers questions from our journalist Laurent Berbon here.
The left arrives in force at the Assembly
Arriving in first place with more than 190 seats – although not having the absolute majority required (289) to govern without sharing – the left-wing parties are arriving in force at the National Assembly this Tuesday, July 9. First, it is the troops of Marine Tondelier (EELV) who will take their places at the Palais Bourbon from 9:15 a.m. They will be followed by the contingent of La France insoumise – more than 70 elected officials – expected around 10:00 a.m., then by the socialists, who are meeting at 2:30 p.m.
Mélenchon still wants to run for Matignon
With around sixty deputies, the socialists hope, thanks to a few rallies, to surpass LFI in numbers and have more influence in the choice of the next Prime Minister. “The balance of power is settled. There is the number of LFI deputies and that of the other members of the New Popular Front”, however affirmed Monday evening the Insoumis Jean-Luc Mélenchon, who is still running for Matignon even though his name divides within his camp.
Edouard Philippe will speak at 8 p.m.
The negotiations are not confined to the left of the chessboard. The Macronist camp, which has limited the damage with more than 160 deputies, is trying to keep the initiative, taking advantage of a political landscape that is more fractured than ever. Gabriel Attal, whose resignation was not accepted on Monday by Emmanuel Macron who asked him to stay for the time being, intends to show himself to be at the helm. He must thus bring together the Renaissance deputies by videoconference on Tuesday morning, before inviting all the parliamentarians of the majority to Matignon at the end of the afternoon.
Another speech will be scrutinized: former Prime Minister Edouard Philippe, who has ambitions for 2027, will speak on TF1 at 8 p.m., and may give some indications on the strategy of his Horizons group (around 25 elected officials). In this fog, Emmanuel Macron is currently holding back. He is expected in Washington on Wednesday for a two-day NATO summit, where he will seek to reassure his partners about France’s stability.