They talked. Wisely seated around a large oval table in the winter garden of the Elysée Palace, against the backdrop of Christmas tree, the National Secretary of Ecologists, Marine Tondelier, the first secretary of the Socialist Party (PS), Olivier Faure , the national secretary of the French Communist Party (PCF), Fabien Roussel, the secretary general of Renaissance, Gabriel Attal, the president of the MoDem, François Bayrou, that of the Horizons party, Edouard Philippe, the president of the deputies of the republican right, Laurent Wauquiez, in particular, exchanged for almost three hours with Emmanuel Macron, Tuesday, December 10, out of sight and microphones, to try to find a result of the blocking consecutive to the fall of the Barnier government. Far from Marine Le Pen (National Rally, RN) and Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France Insoumise, LFI), which were not invited. “An unprecedented format, for an unprecedented situation”seemed to congratulate the head of state.
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In the center of the table, flanked by Marine Mondelier on his left and Gabriel Attal on his right, the President of the Republic immediately affirmed his “Willingness not to dissolve the National Assembly” and to see it work “In the next thirty months”that is to say until the end of his five-year term. A wish that is not worth a commitment, said those around him, a little later. But likely to relax the atmosphere around the table. The absence of short -term elections gives deputies more visibility. And makes socialists, communists and ecologists less dependent on the electoral coalition of the new sealed Popular Front in June, with LFI.
Another merit of this meeting, according to Emmanuel Macron: it made it possible to identify “Unanimity of political forces to no longer depend on the national rally”, He was delighted after the debates. “It is the implicit recognition of the fact that he had done everything depend on the RN so far”, Interpreter with the Monde Olivier Faure. If the lepenist movement went from 89 to 124 deputies between 2022 and 2024, making the RN the first force of the National Assembly, Emmanuel Macron puts his own responsibility in this progression. “I am not the only one in Europe to have seen the push of the extreme right”he launched in the Elysian camera.
Three possible options
The Head of State, to whom some criticize the future Prime Minister by summoning the parties on rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, told his hosts that this first meeting at the Elysée would also be the last. He will name Michel Barnier’s successor “Within forty-eight hours”he announced, and he will entrust him with the task of “Continue discussions” with the parties, this time “On the subjects of substantive and daily life of the French”and that “Before the government is appointed”.
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