Important victory for French President Emmanuel Macron

French President Emmanuel Macron's party struck a last-minute deal with right-wing lawmakers to win a decisive vote in the French parliament on July 18.

This important victory makes it easier for the French President to choose who will form the next government to run the day-to-day affairs in one of Europe's leading economies.

It was also the first breakthrough in efforts to form a majority amid deadlock after early legislative elections saw Mr Macron's centrist Ensemble (Together) bloc come in second behind a left-wing coalition.

On July 18, the centrist and right-wing parties joined together to form a "special alliance" to help Ms. Yaël Braun-Pivet, President of the previous French National Assembly, keep her seat in the new parliament.

The vote is seen as a test of which factions can work together in France's fragmented parliament to elect the country's next prime minister.

By combining their forces, centrists and center-righters seized political momentum while delivering a stunning blow to their opponents across the political spectrum.

Yaël Braun-Pivet, a centrist ally of French President Emmanuel Macron, steps to the podium after being re-elected as President of the French National Assembly, July 18, 2024. Photo: NY Times

Specifically, with 220 votes in the third round, Ms. Braun-Pivet, 53 years old, defeated left-wing candidate Andre Chassaigne, who received 207 votes, and Sebastien Chenu, who represented the far-right and received 141 votes.

Matthieu Hocque, a political analyst at the Millénaire public policy think tank in Paris, said Ms Braun-Pivet's victory increased the possibility that Mr Macron could appoint a prime minister from his own camp.

"In modern French history, the National Assembly President has always been on the same side as the Prime Minister. This practice will become a thing of the past if it does not happen this time," said analyst Matthieu Hocque.

The dramatic vote on July 18 in the French National Assembly (lower house) took place just 11 days after the New Popular Front (NFP), a broad coalition of left-wing parties, won a surprise victory in the previous early election.

Although the NFP won the most seats in the new parliament, it is still far from an absolute majority. In addition, internal relations within this left-wing coalition are not really stable.

The inconclusive election results have thrown French politics into chaos, threatening the Eurozone's second-largest economy with months, even years, of political paralysis.

The July 18 vote in the French National Assembly did indeed provide a “narrow window” to break the deadlock. But despite the success of unity, Mr Macron’s centrists and conservatives are unlikely to continue their partnership.

A conservative lawmaker who spoke on condition of anonymity told Politico that the center-right Les Républicains (French Republicans) party will take a step-by-step approach, focusing its efforts at this stage on securing key positions in parliament rather than discussing forming a government together.

The centre-right Les Républicains party has officially registered as part of the opposition, the unnamed lawmaker added.

Conservatives have previously publicly rejected the prospect of a genuine coalition with centrists backing President Macron, but have said they are ready to agree a legislative programme.

Coalition building and compromise between parties are rare in French politics. A minority government would likely be too fragile to survive. With no party or bloc winning an outright majority in the recent snap election, a coalition government seems the most likely outcome.

"We have no other choice. We must get along, we must cooperate, we must compromise, we must dialogue, we must listen and move forward," Braun-Pivet said in her victory speech.

Minh Duc (According to Politico EU, Digital Journal)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/chien-thang-quan-trong-cho-tong-thong-phap-emmanuel-macron-20424071911343165.htm