AFP – French President Emmanuel Macron was yesterday edging closer to naming a new premier after almost two months of political deadlock, with the European Union’s (EU) Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier emerging as a leading candidate.
Since Wednesday, politicians and media in France have raised expectations that a new head of government would be announced soon to succeed Gabriel Attal following elections in July that resulted in a hung parliament.
But no name has emerged conclusively, with Macron ostensibly seeking a figure who would not be booted out of office by a vote of no confidence in parliament.
But with frustration growing among opponents and even allies over his failure to name a new prime minister – and a looming deadline to present a budget – it appears the announcement should not be delayed too much longer.
A left-wing coalition emerged as France’s biggest political force but with not enough seats for an overall majority, while Macron’s centrist faction and the far right make up the two other major groups in the National Assembly.
Conservative ex-minister Xavier Bertrand and former Socialist prime minister Bernard Cazeneuve had been seen as the initial favourites.
But both figures appear now to have fallen by the wayside with the mathematics of France’s new parliament stacked against them.
