Macron calls for compromises to resolve France's deadlock

French President Emmanuel Macron ruled out any attempt to create a "government of national unity," saying that political forces need to "collectively" learn how to govern differently.

Macron in a televised address to the nation ruled out a national unity government but appeared upbeat on the chances for progress.
AFP

Macron in a televised address to the nation ruled out a national unity government but appeared upbeat on the chances for progress.

President Emmanuel Macron has urged France's political forces to make compromises to end a political deadlock sparked by his failure to retain a parliamentary majority that threatens to wreck his reform plans.

Macron's 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.

Breaking three days of silence in the wake of the elections, Macron in a televised address to the nation ruled out a national unity government but appeared upbeat on the chances for progress, even if he did not offer any concrete solutions.

Macron said France's political forces must "collectively learn to govern and legislate differently" by building "compromises, additions and amendments but doing so in complete transparency, for the sake of national unity".

He acknowledged that the ruling coalition had fallen short of an overall majority and "would have to expand, either by building a coalition deal or by creating majorities bill-by-bill," in the parliament.

But he ruled out any attempt to create a "government of national unity", saying such a move was "not justified" at this stage.

READ MORE: Macron to host French opposition party leaders to break impasse

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Moving 'beyond politics'

Macron acknowledged that the parliamentary elections had highlighted social problems in France, but he called on the opposition parties to "leave in-fighting behind" and move "beyond politics".

Over the past two days, Macron has hosted rare talks at the Elysee Palace with opposition leaders to find a way out of the crisis.

He met the head of the far-right National Rally (RN) Marine Le Pen on Tuesday, while the head of the left-wing NUPES alliance, hard-leftist Jean-Luc Melenchon, sent lawmaker Adrien Quatennens, 32, to represent him in talks on Wednesday.

The meetings so far appear to have made little headway, and Macron has also rejected an offer from under-fire Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to resign.

But Macron said the opposition were ready "to advance on major topics" such as the cost of living, jobs, energy, climate and health".

He said urgent draft laws, especially to alleviate the impact of inflation and rising energy prices, would be submitted to parliament over the summer.

Macron called on the opposition parties to "clarify in all transparency, in the coming days, how far they are willing to go" in their support of such measures, which he said would not be financed by higher taxes.

READ MORE: Macron scrambles to salvage power after losing parliamentary majority

'No blank cheque'

Analysts have said the most viable solution would be a deal between Macron's centrist alliance and the right-wing Republicans (LR), a party on the decline but which still won 61 seats.

But after talks with Macron on Tuesday, LR leader Christian Jacob ruled out any kind of "pact" with Macron's Together alliance.

This would leave agreeing legislation on a bill-by-bill basis the most likely option.

The head of the LR's parliamentary faction, Olivier Marleix, said there was "no alternative to "respect and dialogue" but warned there would be "no blank cheque" for the government.

Melenchon reaffirmed his threat to file a motion of no-confidence against Borne next month, even if other opposition leaders have shown less appetite for such action.

He accused Macron of failing to acknowledge the message sent from voters.

"It is useless to dissolve the reality of the vote by obscuring it with these kinds of appeals," he scoffed.

READ MORE: What's next for Macron after losing his parliamentary majority?

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