The President of France, Emmanuel Macronbroke its silence on Wednesday, three days after the second round of the legislative elections, through a letter to citizens distributed by several French media outlets.
In the letter, the president has called on the country’s main political parties to form a “republican bloc” with a “solid” majority. Only when this is completed process, he clarified, will appoint the new prime minister. In the meantime, the current head of government, Gabriel Attal, will remain in office.
“Divided in the first round, united by mutual withdrawals in the second, elected thanks to the votes of their former adversaries, Only the republican forces represent an absolute majority. The nature of these elections, marked by a clear demand for change and power sharing, forces them to build a broad-based coalition”Macron indicated in his text.
“This will mean giving the political forces a little time to work out these commitments calmly and with mutual respect,” he said in the letter, which was also shared by the Elysée Palace.
Macron has not explicitly asked that the far-right National Rally (RN) and far-left parties, La France Insoumise (LFI). However, his mention of the “republican values” It is usually understood as an exclusion of extreme parties.
Along these lines, in the text, Macron underlines that “nobody has won” at the polls. A statement with which the president downplays the victory of the New Popular Front, the leftist coalition led by the radical Jean-Luc Mélenchon which managed to be the force with the most votes in the second round of the legislative elections.
Previously, Mélenchon had proclaimed himself winner of the elections and had demanded that Macron appoint a prime minister from the progressive alliance.
Letter to the citizens from Emmanuel Macron
“Dear French women, dear French women,
On 30 June and 7 July you turned out in large numbers to elect your deputies. I welcome this mobilisation, a sign of the vitality of our Republic from which, I believe, we can draw some conclusions.
First, there is the need for democratic expression in the country. Then, if the far right came out on top in the first round with almost 11 million votes, you clearly refused to allow it to enter the government. Well, nobody won. No single political force obtains a sufficient majority and the blocs or coalitions that emerge from these elections are all minorities.
Divided in the first round, united by mutual withdrawals in the second, elected thanks to the votes of the electors of their former adversaries, only the republican forces represent an absolute majority. The nature of these elections, marked by a clear demand for change and for sharing power, demands that a great reunion be built.
President of the Republic, I am both the protector of the best interests of the Nation and the guarantor of the institutions and of respect for your election.
For this reason, I call on all political forces that recognise republican institutions, the rule of law, parliamentarianism, a European orientation and the defence of French independence, to engage in a sincere and loyal dialogue in order to build a solid majority, necessarily plural for the country. Ideas and programmes before positions and personalities: this meeting must be built around a few fundamental principles for the country, clear and shared republican values, a pragmatic and legible project and take into account the concerns that you have expressed at the time of the elections. It must guarantee the greatest possible institutional stability. It will bring together women and men who, following the tradition of the Fifth Republic, place their country above their party, the Nation above their ambition. What the French chose at the polls: the republican front, the political forces must make a reality through their actions.
In the light of these principles, I will decide on the appointment of the Prime Minister. This requires giving the political forces a little time to build these compromises with serenity and respect for all. Until then, the current Government will continue to exercise its responsibilities and take charge of current affairs, as is the republican tradition.
Let us place our hope in the ability of our political leaders to demonstrate a sense of harmony and appeasement for the benefit of you and the country. Our country must be able to make this spirit of overcoming that I have always called for a reality, as so many of our European neighbours do.
Your vote requires everyone to rise to the occasion. To work together. Last Sunday you called for the invention of a new French political culture. I will take care of it for you. On your behalf I guarantee it.
In confidence.
Emmanuel Macron
**This letter has been published by media such as ‘Le Parisien’ and ‘France Bleu’.
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