But these are extraordinary times for France, facing an unprecedented moment of political instability. Choosing the right prime minister now really matters if the country is to be governable because Macron falls well short of a ruling majority in parliament.
From the Brégançon fort, the presidency’s vacation home on a private island on the French Riviera, Macron has been exploring his options and contemplating his timeline moving forward following his party’s defeat in this summer’s snap elections, which left France with a fractured legislature.
After a crushing defeat at the hand of the far-right National Rally during the June 9 European election, the French president took the political community aback by triggering early elections. While pollsters saw the far right as best-positioned to profit off of Macron’s political gamble, it was the New Popular Front (NFP), an ad hoc electoral alliance including the four main left wing forces in France, which secured an upset victory.
However, Macron is not acknowledging a straight win by the NFP. He argues it has secured too few seats in the new legislature to govern with stability and is instead calling for France to embark on coalition-building on the model of other European countries.
French daily Le Monde reported the president is looking for a consensus figure with appeal for both the left and the right; one who would give at least the impression of cohabitation — the balancing act in French government when the prime minister and president do not hail from the same party or coalition.
While a prime minister fitting that exact description will be hard to find, top executives within the pro-Macron coalition have insisted on the need to appoint a head of government who, at the very least, would not alienate potential partners on the center left and center right.
