French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday ruled out naming a left-wing government to end the country's political deadlock, saying it would be a threat to "institutional stability". While Macron said he would start new talks Tuesday to find a prime minister, left-wing parties reacted with fury to his announcement, calling for street protests and the impeachment of the president. Macron has held protracted talks on a new government since elections in July gave a left-wing alliance the most seats in parliament but not enough to govern.
The president rejected left-wing claims to govern after negotiations Monday with far-right figurehead Marine Le Pen and other political leaders. While some reports said Macron had wanted to name a prime minister on Tuesday, the president instead said he would embark on a new round of negotiations. "My responsibility is that the country is not blocked nor weakened," Macron said in a statement, calling on "all political leaders to rise to the occasion by demonstrating a spirit of responsibility".
The July election left the 577-seat National Assembly divided between the left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) alliance with over 190 seats, followed by Macron's centrist alliance at around 160 and Le Pen's National Rally at 140. The NFP, particularly the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), has demanded the right to form a government but centrist and right-wing parties have vowed to vote it down in any confidence vote. A purely left-wing government "would be imme.