Left-wing parties in France reluctant to form government with new premier

Left-wing parties in France are showing reluctance to enter into government with newly appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu after the center-right administration fell last week.

Lecornu is expected to meet on Wednesday with Socialists, Greens, Communists, and far-right representatives, BMFTV reported on Tuesday.

He has been holding talks since the beginning of the week with various parties in parliament, with the goals of preparing the 2026 budget and preventing his government from collapsing.

Mathilde Panot, deputy group leader of France Unbowed (LFI), the largest party in the New Popular Front (NFP) alliance that holds the most seats among leftist blocs in parliament, told a weekly press briefing that Lecornu called her to invite them to a meeting at the prime minister’s office.

Panot added that the LFI has nothing to negotiate with those supporting President Emmanuel Macron.

Panot, who wants Lecornu to face a confidence vote in Parliament, said that if the premier fails to do so, the government would fall at the start of the new legislative term.

Meanwhile, the Socialists – considered potential coalition partners of the ruling side – said they will not take positions in Lecornu’s cabinet.

During a press conference, the Socialist Party (PS) said no member of the party would join Lecornu’s government.

The Socialists said they would attend Wednesday's meeting at the prime minister’s office to negotiate their social and environmental demands, while also calling for a fairer tax system.

They indicated that, should negotiations fail, they could topple the new government, adding that they are not afraid to propose a new censure motion against the government.