They talked to each other. Wisely seated around a large oval table in the winter garden of the Elysée Palace, against the backdrop of a Christmas tree, the national secretary of the Ecologists Marine Tondelier, the first secretary of the Socialist Party (PS) Olivier Faure, the national secretary of the Communist Party (PCF) Fabien Roussel, the secretary general of Renaissance Gabriel Attal, the president of MoDem François Bayrou, that of the Horizons party Edouard Philippe, the president of deputies of the Les Républicains party (LR) Laurent Wauquiez, in particular, spoke for almost three hours with Emmanuel Macron, Tuesday December 10, out of sight and away from microphones, to try to find a way out of the blockage following the fall of the Barnier government. Far from Marine Le Pen (National Rally, RN) and Jean-Luc Mélenchon (La France insoumise, LFI), who were not invited. “A new format, for a new situation”the head of state seemed to congratulate himself.
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In the center of the table, flanked by Marine Tondelier on his left and Gabriel Attal on his right, the President of the Republic immediately affirmed his “desire not to dissolve the National Assembly” and see it working “in the next thirty months”that is to say until the end of his five-year term. A wish which does not constitute a commitment, clarified those around him a little later. But likely to relax the atmosphere around the table. The absence of elections in the short term gives MPs more visibility. And makes socialists, communists and ecologists less dependent on the electoral coalition of the New Popular Front sealed in June with LFI.
Another merit of this meeting, according to Emmanuel Macron: it made it possible to identify “a unanimity of political forces to no longer depend on the National Rally”, he rejoiced at the end of the debates. “It is the implicit recognition of the fact that he had made everything depend on the RN until now,” interpreter to the Monde the socialist Olivier Faure. If the Lepéniste movement increased from 89 to 124 deputies between 2022 and 2024, making the RN the leading force in the National Assembly, Emmanuel Macron puts his own responsibility in this progression into perspective. “I am not the only one in Europe to have seen the rise of the far right”he said behind closed doors at the Élysée.
Three possible options
The head of state, who some accuse of supplanting the future prime minister by convening the parties on rue du Faubourg-Saint-Honoré, clarified to his hosts that this first meeting at the Elysée would also be the last. He will appoint 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 substantive issues and daily life of the French”and this “before the government was appointed”.
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