French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet Bernard Cazeneuve, a former Socialist party member and seasoned politician, on Monday, as he prepares to announce a new prime minister. Macron will also consult his two predecessors, François Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, according to sources close to the president.
The meeting comes as Macron faces mounting pressure to resolve a political deadlock following a snap election that resulted in a fragmented parliament with no party gaining a majority and the parliament unable to appoint a prime minister owing to the opposition in the house. Macron needs to decide on a prime minister who will govern the parliament and rule alongside him, a quite complex position for him after his party lost in the snap elections. He must, however, appoint a candidate who will be able to unify the divided parliament to an extent.
Political observers and politicians have said that Cazeneuve, who left the Socialist Party two years ago in protest of its ties with the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party is the leading candidate for the role. His appeal spans both right-wing and left-wing factions, making him a potentially unifying choice.
The incoming prime minister will need to navigate the challenges of a hung parliament while pushing through reforms and the 2025 budget. France is under pressure from the European Commission and bond markets to address its deficit.
Cazeneuve’s experience includes a stint as prime minister at the end of Hollande’s term, and previous roles as Minister for European Affairs, Budget, and Interior. Macron’s strategy to call an early election backfired, leaving his centrist coalition without a majority and the New Popular Front alliance in the first place but not viable for government formation.
With the political gridlock persisting, Macron will be unable to call another snap election until July next year under the French constitution.
