Left-wing camp in France divided over pick for prime minister

The broad leftist coalition that banded together to beat back the French far-right is struggling to pick a candidate for prime minister.

The multi-party New Popular Front (NFP) alliance, which was the surprise winner of Sunday's snap parliamentary elections, consists primarily of the Socialists, the Greens, the Communists and firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon's hard-left France Unbowed.

At an overnight meeting between the Socialists and France Unbowed, no agreement was reached, broadcaster France Info reported on Wednesday, as both parties vie for supremacy in the alliance.

The Socialists see their party leader Olivier Faure as the best candidate for the premiership.

France Unbowed is pushing for Clémence Guetté, a deputy in the National Assembly. Guetté organized Mélenchon's 2022 presidential election campaign.

President Emmanuel Macron called the early polls on June 9. The NFP was launched shortly before the first round of elections for the National Assembly on June 30. The short window to prepare meant that the bloc did not go into the elections with a lead candidate.

On Monday, the NFP said it hoped to name its pick for prime minister by the end of this week or early next.

Left-wing government still uncertain

The left-wing alliance came in first in the elections but failed to win a majority, leaving no clear path to a stable government in France.

The parliament is now divided between the NFP alliance, the second-place camp belonging to President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist allies, and Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally, which came in third.

In a statement on Tuesday evening, the left-wing alliance called on Macron to task it with forming a government. But without other partners, the alliance would not be able to govern and could be blocked by the other political camps.

The National Rally already sees itself clearly in the opposition role.

As the various political blocs scramble to find a way to get a majority of seats and break the deadlock, broadcaster BFMTV said the Socialists were exploring whether to split from the NFP and join Macron's camp.

The report said the conservative Republicans were also considering joining Macron's team.

Macron had already asked Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to remain in office with the current government for the time being, in order to maintain "stability."

This transitional period may also drag on in view of the upcoming political summer break. There is no prescribed deadline for Macron as to when a new government must be in place.