Summary of the day
On Sunday, a left-wing alliance emerged as the shock winner of France’s snap election.
Today, Emmanuel Macron, the president, asked Gabriel Attal to stay on temporarily as French prime minister to maintain stability after the snap general election left the country facing a hung parliament and fraught negotiations to form a new government.
Olivier Faure, the first secretary of the French Socialist party, said the left-green New Popular Front should present a candidate for prime minister within the week.
Manuel Bompard, from the hard left France Unbowed, said Macron must invite someone from the New Popular Front to become prime minister.
Figures on the French left began to outline the qualities they would like to see in a future prime minister. Marine Tondelier from the Ecologists said the prime minister must have an ability to build consensus and repair the country.
Despite her party unexpectedly ending up in third place, the far right National Rally’s Marine Le Pen said the party’s progress in two years is incredible, arguing that victory is inevitable.
The National Rally’s Jordan Bardella said he accepts his share of responsibility for yesterday’s results.
Meanwhile, Bardella was selected as chair of the new Patriots for Europe group in the European parliament, a grouping which includes Viktor Orbán’s Fidesz party and other far right parties.
Valérie Hayer, a Macron ally and leader of the Renew Europe group, called the new far right grouping a “paper tiger” that “impresses no one.”
Reaction in Germany amongst mainstream parties towards the election result in France has been fairly sombre, despite some feeling consoled that the outcome was not as bad as they had feared.
Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has said that he is relieved by the French election results.
Pedro Sánchez, Spain’s prime minister, wrote that “the UK and France have said YES to progress and social advancement and NO to the rolling back of rights and freedoms. You don’t govern or do deals with the far right.”
Italian opposition parties celebrated the surprise outcome of the French elections.
Manfred Weber, leader of the centre-right European People’s party, has written that “far from clarifying the political situation, Macron plunged France into confusion, strengthening the extremes.”
The German politician added that he is “very worried about the far left & far right anti-EU rhetoric. We need a strong democratic force Les Républicains giving a real alternative to put France back on its feet.”
Far from clarifying the political situation, Macron plunged France into confusion, strengthening the extremes. Very worried about the far left & far right anti-EU rethoric. We need a strong democratic force @lesRepublicains giving a real alternative to put France back on its feet
— Manfred Weber (@ManfredWeber) July 8, 2024
