French President Emmanuel Macron, a “Jupiter,” has written a letter to the French people reflecting on the recent general election’s failure to produce a new government, but conveniently making no mention of his own role in the outcome.
In a letter to the nation published in a national newspaper, Macron said no new prime minister or government would be appointed for the time being, and stressed his role as “guardian of the higher interests of the nation”.
Macron congratulated the French people for rejecting the “far right” at the ballot box, even though the opposite actually happened: Le Pen’s National Rally (RN), which actually has fairly left-leaning economic views but is in favor of border controls, came in first in both elections, making a mockery of the president’s claims.
Inevitably raising questions about whether France’s 1958-style electoral system is suited to modern voting preferences, the RN came first in the vote but third in seats, while Macron’s group came third in the vote but second in seats.
Emmanuel Macron warns of ‘civil war’ in France if people vote for populists https://t.co/EHMzEX6IsS
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) June 25, 2024
After failing to consolidate his own faction in the French parliament, and with the leftists now in power after warning just weeks ago that any move closer to power would lead to “civil war”, Macron appears to be biding his time to find a way out. Meanwhile, far-left leader Mélenchon has accused Macron of trying to subvert democracy – a brave move for someone of his stature.
Macron, in an apparent tantrum calling the elections after his party’s crushing defeat in last month’s European Union elections, avoided playing any role, telling the nation: “No one won. There are political forces that cannot win sufficient majorities on their own, and all the blocs and coalitions that have emerged from these elections are minorities… As President of the Republic, I am the guardian of the people’s higher interests, but I am also the guarantor of institutions and the respecter of your choices… Last Sunday, you called for the creation of a new French political culture. I will achieve this for you. In your name, I will be its guarantor.”
Overall, Macron said he would not appoint a new prime minister until the new political forces had been given “some time.” In the meantime, the old government would continue in power, he said.
Macron’s rhetoric aside, a survey published on Wednesday suggests that the French themselves are seeing through the allegations and are not satisfied with the status quo. Reports A new poll found that 65% of French people think that President Macron’s calling for early elections was a bad idea, and a further 70% or so say they are dissatisfied with the inconclusive outcome of the election itself.
The political maneuvering to eliminate Le Pen’s RN at all costs in the second round of the election (leading to the bizarre situation in which her party received the most votes but had fewer seats) is said to be described by more than half of the French as conspiratorial and “unnatural”.
“Victory has only been postponed”: Le Pen hails “rising tide” after party wins most seats in history at national rallyhttps://t.co/nt3sBolw4P
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) July 8, 2024
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the radical leader of the party that came in first in parliament, was even more blunt on Wednesday night, completely rejecting Macron’s letter to the nation, calling it a denial of democracy. “The president refuses to recognise the results of the polls,” Mélenchon said, accusing Macron of trying to exercise a “royal veto” over voters by refusing to acknowledge that his party won the most seats.
Mélenchon likened Macron’s “conspiracy” to the end of the last era of the French Republic and called on Macron to “give in and form a new Popular Front. This is democracy itself.” Meanwhile, French Senate President Gérard Larcher has taken an opposing view, reminding the public that despite high voter turnout for the new National Assembly, the left’s vote share is very low.
Larcher said on French television on Thursday morning that if Macron asked his left-wing coalition, the New Popular Front, to form a government, “I oppose this choice and I call on my friends to denounce this government because it does not represent the deep will of the French people.”
This is a rapidly developing story and there is likely to be more to come.
‘No future’: French Jews express fear after far-left election victoryhttps://t.co/sudcFEkD1F
— Breitbart London (@BreitbartLondon) July 8, 2024
