His decision not to select a New Popular Front (NFP) candidate was met with anger and threats of impeachment, as reported by Financial World. The NFP alliance is comprised of France Unbowed (LFI), the Socialist Party (PS), the Greens (EELV), and the Communist Party (PCF).
This comes as the French government has been in a deadlock as the president struggles to appoint a PM candidate with cross-party support. Macron said the appointment of an NFP would lead to an immediate no-confidence vote and the collapse of the government.
"Such a government would immediately have a majority of more than 350 MPs against it, effectively preventing it from acting," said Macron in a statement explaining his decision. "Given the opinions expressed by the political leaders consulted, the institutional stability of our country means that this option should not be pursued."
President Macron announced that there will be additional rounds of consultations with party leaders and senior politicians starting on Tuesday.
"At this unprecedented time in the Fifth Republic, when the expectations of the French people are high, the head of state calls on all political leaders to rise to the occasion by demonstrating a spirit of responsibility," Macron said. "My responsibility is to ensure that the country is neither blocked nor weakened."
The NFP stated after the announcement that it would not engage in any additional discussions unless the formation of government was addressed.
During the second round of the parliamentary elections in July, the leftist alliance defeated the right-wing National Gathering (RN). The far-left coalition secured the most representatives in the assembly, 577 in total, and declared that each subsequent prime minister should be selected from its members.
