A Fragmented Election Demands a New Political Culture of Compromise
In the wake of a chaotic snap election, the word “ingouvernable” has become a buzzword in France, capturing the nation’s sense of political paralysis. With no party securing an absolute majority, France finds itself at a crossroads, facing a political deadlock that could stall administration and rattle financial markets.
This scenario might be business as usual in other EU countries, where coalition governments are the norm, but for France, it marks a dramatic departure. President Emmanuel Macron’s gamble to call a snap election to counter the rise of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally didn’t fully pay off. While Le Pen’s party didn’t win, the left-wing New Popular Front, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, claimed the most seats, leaving Macron’s centrist camp in second place.
Now, France’s political factions are compelled to consider alliances—anathema in French politics, where compromise is often seen as betrayal. Macron, in a letter to the public, urged the creation of a new political culture based on coalition, a plea that underscores the gravity of the situation.
However, embracing this new culture won’t be easy. The French political elite, long unaccustomed to power-sharing, faces a steep learning curve. Joseph de Weck of the Foreign Policy Research Institute highlights this challenge, noting that what seems ungovernable in France is merely routine in other European parliaments.
During the election, a rare cooperation emerged to thwart Le Pen. Macron’s centrists and the left-wing alliance reluctantly joined forces in the second round, uniting the anti-Le Pen vote. This temporary truce underscores the difficulty of forging a lasting coalition, especially given the stark policy differences between Macron’s liberals and Mélenchon’s far-left movement.
This election could signal the end of France’s “exception” in the EU, where coalition governments are standard. Gilles Gressani of Groupe d’études géopolitiques observes that France, along with Malta and Hungary, has avoided coalition governments for a decade. The task now is to find a prime minister capable of navigating this fragmented political landscape.
The New Popular Front claims the right to propose the next prime minister, given its electoral success. Macron’s camp, meanwhile, is exploring alliances with center-left factions or even the right-wing Republicans. These negotiations are unprecedented in modern French politics, where the constitution and majoritarian system typically ensure a clear majority aligned with the president.
This election has exposed the system’s limitations. For the first time in two decades, France faces the possibility of “cohabitation”—a president and government from rival camps. In 2022, Macron managed to appoint a prime minister from his camp despite losing the parliamentary majority. Now, with his bloc coming in second, he must appoint a PM who can secure parliamentary support through negotiations.
Unlike Germany, where the chancellor leads coalition talks, or Italy, where the president consults party leaders, France has no clear protocol for such negotiations. Macron’s ally François Bayrou suggests the president should break the deadlock by picking a compromise PM. However, Macron’s outsider status and aloof demeanor might hinder his ability to mediate effectively.
In his recent letter, Macron emphasized the need for a “solid, necessarily plural” coalition, urging calm and respectful compromise. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, however, dismissed Macron’s message as a “royal veto” against the left.
The fragmented parliament has reignited debate over France’s electoral system. The current two-round system, which forces a polarizing choice in run-offs, may no longer be fit for purpose. Some argue for a proportional system, better representing smaller parties, akin to the European Parliament or Dutch model.
Voting reform has been discussed before but never enacted. If the current fraught negotiations are any indication, France’s journey to embrace coalition politics might still be a long one.
