Macron invites party leaders to the Élysée, excluding the far right and far left

In France, on December 9, 2024, President Emmanuel Macron continued to delay the appointment of a new prime minister following individual consultations with various political parties. He invited party leaders to the Elysée Palace for a meeting aimed at reaching a compromise and forming a government of general interest. Notably, this invitation marked the first time that most parliamentary party leaders gathered together, excluding the far-right Rassemblement National (RN) and the far-left La France Insoumise (LFI). This exclusion was due to their collective opposition, as they voted for a no-confidence motion that led to the fall of Prime Minister Michel Barnier's government. Macron's decision reflects his stance that the RN and LFI have united against the republic and have not demonstrated a willingness to engage in compromise. In contrast, parties such as the Socialists, Greens, and Communists have shown some willingness to engage in dialogue, even though they also voted to dismiss Barnier. Socialist leader Olivier Faure expressed readiness to negotiate with both the presidential bloc and the right-wing Les Républicains (LR). The meeting's objective was to establish a methodological framework for creating a stable government, which Macron sees as essential for governance. After his previous attempt to encourage dialogue among political forces fell flat, he hoped this new initiative would lead to a solid, plural majority for the country. The meeting was characterized as a first step towards potentially achieving reasonable stability in the government.