Elections in France: Macron must face rival parties after losing the majority
Written byTimes Magazine
French President Emmanuel Macron will meet political opponents on Tuesday after his coalition failed to secure a majority in the general election.
Macron is now under pressure to win support from his rivals to implement his government's reform agenda.
But neither Marin Le Pen's extreme right nor Jean-Luc Melenchon's green-left coalition wanted to work with him.
Minority governments are rare in France, and Macron's alliance has 44 fewer seats than the majority.
That means he will have to seek the support of key lawmakers on the political left and right to help build a workable majority. Representatives from the parties will come separately to the Elysée Palace for high-level talks on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Analysts say the president may expect a deal with the far-right Republican Party, and the party has confirmed its leader Christian Jacob will attend the talks. Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure and Communist Party leader Fabien Russell, a member of the left-wing Nupes alliance, will meet Macron.
France's central government is desperate to avoid political paralysis after losing its majority, with some commentators warning that France is about to get out of hand.
Macron also has to replace three ministers who lost their seats in Sunday's vote, and Prime Minister Elizabeth Bourne's future looks increasingly threatened.
Sunday's election saw a low turnout with an abstention rate of 53%.
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