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08/07: Johannes Lindner on how a coalition government could be formed in France

Talks to form a new government have begun in the wake of France’s parliamentary elections. The left-wing alliance Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) claims the post of prime minister as the winner of the election and announced on Monday that it would present a candidate within a week.

On the front pages of many European newspapers, the outcome of the French legislative elections – Credits: Montage Toute l’Europe

However, the parties in the alliance face difficult negotiations: prominent representatives of the Socialists, Communists and Greens have explicitly ruled out Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the radical leader of the strongest left-wing party, La France Insoumise (LFI), as head of government.

Johannes Lindner, Director of the Jacques Delors Centre, sees the party system “in a process of profound reorganisation”. The unclear majority also means a shift in power : “The election result strengthens parliament and weakens the president,” he says. As a result, it will be up to the parties to reorganise the majority in the coming days and weeks. “Emmanuel Macron will at most have a role as a moderator, which will certainly not be easy for the president.”

Read more on this exceptional situation for France and possible scenarios on www.Table.Media in English and German.