Macron Repels French Left as Center Retains Top Parliament Job
Live Mint-- French lawmakers reelected a centrist candidate from Emmanuel Macron’s party to a second term leading the National Assembly in a sign the president’s coalition may be best placed to form a new government after he dissolved the legislature last month. The National Assembly has been left divided between three primary groups following the July 7 snap election — the New Popular Front, the centrist Ensemble that has the second-most seats, and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally in third — with none holding enough seats to be able to form a government on their own. “We’re the only coherent political force responding to the aspirations of the French people,” Boris Vallaud, who leads the Socialists in the National Assembly, told reporters after Thursday’s vote, adding that Macron needed to appoint a premier from the New Popular Front. “Today, we have mixed feelings of anger and determination — anger because the French people have been robbed today.” ‘Republican Forces’ While the New Popular Front says they should get to choose the next prime minister, infighting has so far prevented them from agreeing on a candidate for the job.