France’s fractured legislature faces first big hurdle

Pick up your pencils, French lawmakers. It’s time for your first test.

The 577 newly elected members of the National Assembly will descend on Paris together for the first time Thursday to choose a new president for the lower legislative house — the fourth-highest ranking figure in France.

This vote will give an indication of whether the alliances taking shape are strong enough to put forward a new government.

After securing an upset victory in France’s chaotic snap election, the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) is likely to secure the post for one of its own.

Following days of fraught negotiations that saw five candidates mooted, the left-wing alliance agreed to rally around 74-year-old veteran communist lawmaker André Chassaigne Wednesday evening — less than 24 hours before the vote is set to take place.

The pressure is now on the other parties, who would need to form an agreement to defeat Chassaigne.

Thursday’s contest will be a crucial indicator of each political group’s willingness and capacity to build bridges within a fractured legislature where no party holds an absolute majority. Whoever succeeds would be one step close to an even greater prize: the premiership and the ability to form a government.

Brief moments of unity

The leader of the French lower house, who is responsible for managing its day-to-day debates, is elected in a three-round voting system. An absolute majority is needed to win in the first or second round; if no winner emerges, whoever gets the most votes in the third round is elected.

With the support of the NFP, Chassaigne — who was first elected to the National Assembly in 2002 and is seen favorably across party lines — is in pole position to become the next president of the National Assembly.

However, the centrists or far right could form tactical alliances to snatch victory from the left.

Bridges are being built, with Conservatives cautiously considering cross-partisan lawmaking. The Republican Right group, with around 45 members, has rejected the idea of a coalition with Emmanuel Macron’s centrist camp but has proposed a “legislative package” focused on policies aimed at “better recognizing work and restoring authority.”

This proposal was well received by the pro-Macron coalition’s right flank.

“We need to work with Republican Right on the issues at hand,” outgoing Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin wrote to members in Macron’s Renaissance group. | Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images

“We need to work with Republican Right on the issues at hand,” outgoing Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin wrote to members in Macron’s Renaissance group.

But working on legislation together is still a far cry from jointly fielding a candidate to lead the National Assembly.

“I don’t see [conservative leader Laurent] Wauquiez giving Macron this gift,” Green MP Benjamin Lucas told POLITICO’s Playbook Paris. 

Although Macron’s camp is backing outgoing National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet, other candidates are campaigning on their ability to work across party lines. Among them is Charles de Courson, a well-respected centrist independent lawmaker who has spent the last 30 years in parliament and is known for his in-depth knowledge on policymaking.

Macron stated he would only appoint a prime minister backed by a “solid, necessarily plural” coalition, implicitly ruling out the prospect of the New Popular Front governing alone.

Thursday’s vote should provide a clear indication of whether such a coalition is feasible.

Anne-Charlotte Dusseaulx contributed reporting.