Politics Before the meeting: Left-wing camp in France criticizes Macron

Shortly before the scheduled talks to form a government in France, the left-wing camp has strongly criticized head of state Emmanuel Macron. "The president's inaction is bad and damaging", wrote the leaders of the left-wing alliance Nouveau Front Populaire in a public letter to the population.

More than six weeks after the early parliamentary elections, it is high time to act. "The president is evading rather than drawing the consequences of this election."

The alliance was surprisingly ahead in the election at the beginning of July. Macron's centrist forces came second, while the right-wing nationalists around Marine Le Pen only came third, contrary to expectations. None of the camps received an absolute majority, making it difficult to form a government. Coalitions across party lines are unusual in France.

Macron wants to hold talks with the parliamentary group and party leaders on Friday and Monday in order to sound out a path towards a stable government. He has repeatedly called for a kind of grand coalition. The left-wing camp will be the first to be received by Macron.

In its letter, which was published on the France Info channel, the left-wing alliance once again made it clear that it wants to govern. "As in all parliamentary democracies, the coalition that comes out on top must be able to form a government." They had been working on this all summer and were ready.

The fact that they do not have an absolute majority in the National Assembly will not stop them. There must be a new way of governing. The camps must work together, the letter said.

Macron wanted to expand the relative majority of his centrist forces with the election. Instead, his camp lost around 100 seats in the National Assembly. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal resigned as a result. His government remains in office on a caretaker basis.