Macron Strives to Limit Far-Right Influence in France’s Next Government

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to appoint a new prime minister by the end of Thursday to replace Michel Barnier. While several names have been speculated in the French media, centrist François Bayrou, one of Macron’s earliest allies, is widely regarded as the leading contender. However, representatives from various left-wing parties have already voiced strong opposition to Bayrou’s potential nomination.

To prevent the next prime minister—whether Bayrou or another candidate—from being ousted within 90 days, Macron convened representatives from all parliamentary political forces at the Élysée Palace on Tuesday. Notably absent from the discussions were the far-right National Rally and the left-wing France Unbowed, the latter of which has pledged to oppose any government that is not led by the left. The meeting sought to chart a path forward for France’s political deadlock.

The talks resulted in two notable points of consensus: first, that no government should rely on support from Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, and second, that a German-style grand coalition spanning opposing parties was off the table.

Relying on Le Pen’s backing was seen as a key misstep that ultimately doomed Barnier’s minority government. That arrangement had given the National Rally an unprecedented degree of power, but the alliance collapsed following disputes over budget cuts and tax increases designed to address France’s soaring deficit.

Despite Tuesday’s meeting, no definitive solution emerged to resolve the political impasse. Left-wing parties remain firm in their demand that the next prime minister come from their ranks, citing their collective success in the summer’s snap elections. Although they fell short of an outright majority, their coalition nonetheless secured a first-place finish.

To foster a compromise, the Greens and Socialists have publicly pledged that any minority government they form would not invoke Article 49.3 of the French Constitution. This controversial mechanism allows the government to bypass a parliamentary vote to pass legislation but simultaneously enables opposition lawmakers to put forward no-confidence motions.