France enters a political deadlock
France risked prolonged political deadlock yesterday after opposition parties gave a frosty reception to President Emmanuel Macron's call for "compromises" to keep France governable after an indecisive parliamentary election. Macron made his plea in an address to the nation late Wednesday days after failing to retain a majority in parliament, a setback that threatens to cripple his ability to carry out his planned reforms. His centrist alliance finished Sunday's parliamentary elections 44 seats short of a majority in the National Assembly, as a new left-wing coalition and the far right made major gains. The main opposition parliamentary groups, feeling triumphant after upsetting the president's party, seemed in no mood, however, to help out Macron whom they accused of putting them on the spot. "He's the one with his back to the wall, not us," said Socialist deputy Valerie Rabault, whose party is part of the new leftist NUPES alliance that enjoyed a surprise surge in the vote. "If he tries to push through his programme without an absolute majority he will be stuck," she said. "He will be responsible for paralysing France."
Comments