French President Emmanuel Macron has called for a 'meeting of different political forces' to hammer out a programme for a new government, amid a political crisis triggered by Prime Minister Michel Barnier's ouster.
President Macron has reportedly suggested a "new method" to put together an executive, according to Green party leader Marine Tondelier, following a meeting with Macron at the Elysée Palace today, Monday.
After July's snap elections produced no clear majority, Macron took almost two months to name conservative Michel Barnier as prime minister.
Barnier was toppled last week in a no-confidence vote over a draft austerity budget for 2025 meant to tackle France's gaping deficit.
New polls cannot be held until the summer, leaving Macron to call for a "meeting of different political forces to discuss a platform" that could unite them in government, Tondelier said.
Until now, Macron had only been meeting with party leaders individually.
However, cobbling together any majority will be tricky in a parliament almost evenly divided between the NFP left-wing alliance, Macron's centrists and conservatives, and the far-right National Rally (RN).
Posting on social media following her meeting with Macron, Tondelier wrote: "The French have asked for political change. We are here ... to make it happen. The only role for Emmanuel Macron is to stop obstructing and to agree to this change".
According to Tondelier, Macron was "very clear about the fact that as far as he is concerned, the RN is not within the circle of parties willing to talk".
The RN had initially helped prop up Barnier's minority government before supporting his downfall.
That leaves the left, centre and centre-right to try and find common ground after clashing fiercely ever since Macron's first presidential win in 2017.
Under pressure
The president's call for a broad-based meeting suggests a new executive will not be put together quickly.
His ally, parliamentary speaker Yael Braun-Pivet, had earlier said a name should come "within the next few hours".
She called for Macron's centrists to join conservative Republicans, independent MPs and the Socialists to form an absolute majority that would survive a no-confidence vote.
Others have called for the 46-year-old head of state to resign himself and trigger a new presidential poll.
But last week, a defiant Macron said that he planned to serve out the remainder of his term, vowing to produce "30 months of useful action" and promising to name a new prime minister in the "coming days".
Macron is now under huge pressure to form a government that can survive a no-confidence vote and pass a budget for next year in a bid to limit political and economic turmoil.
'Can't go on like this'
Meanwhile, Macron's allies have urged him to move quickly.
"We can't go on like this," Macron's centrist ally Francois Bayrou said on Sunday, warning that the French did not want the uncertainty to continue.
Bayrou heads the MoDem party, which is allied to, but not part of, Macron's centrist force.
He has been tipped as a possible contender for prime minister. "If I can help us get through this, I will," he said.
However many do not support his candidacy.
"Mr Bayrou's political line did not win the legislative elections," Tondelier told broadcaster RTL ahead of Monday's meeting with Macron.
"We need a personality who is compatible with the left," added prominent centre-left politician Raphael Glucksmann.
A potential split in the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance of Greens, Communists, Socialists and hard-left France Unbowed could prove key to building a new government.
Formed to help keep the far right out of power, the NFP emerged as the largest bloc in the National Assembly after the summer elections.
Its leaders have long insisted that Macron should appoint a prime minister from their ranks, although the president ruled that out earlier this year.
This comes as the latest government crisis has brought NFP infighting to the fore, with France Unbowed insisting that no cooperation with Macron is possible, while other parties have been open to talks.
Meanwhile, the head of the National Rally Jordan Bardella – whose party has not been invited to talks with Macron – earlier demanded a meeting with the future prime minister.
"You can't pretend we're not here," he said.
Barnier, who held the role of prime minister for only three months, remains in charge on a caretaker basis until a new government is appointed.
(With newswires)
