PARIS (Reuters) – France’s incoming government announcement has been delayed until Monday evening to observe a day of mourning for cyclone-stricken Mayotte, as confirmed by the presidency in a statement. This decision extends the period of political uncertainty in one of Europe’s prominent nations.
The prospective centrist Prime Minister, Francois Bayrou, has encountered difficulties over the past ten days in forming a government. His efforts are aimed at preventing a vote of no-confidence scheduled for mid-January and securing parliamentary approval for the 2025 budget in February.
In light of the national day of mourning, the presidency specified that the government announcement will not occur before 1800 (1700 GMT). Concerns mount over the potential loss of hundreds or even thousands of lives due to Cyclone Chido in Mayotte, a French territory in the Indian Ocean.
Initially, Bayrou sought to create a broad coalition government that would appeal to both the left-leaning Socialist party and the conservative Les Republicains, striving to avoid the fate of his predecessor, Michel Barnier, whose government collapsed after three months amid opposition to budgetary policies. However, Bayrou’s attempts to satisfy the left’s demands have fallen short, impeding his goal of securing a majority in a deeply divided parliament.
In a letter addressed to Les Republicains, who garnered only 5% of votes in the recent parliamentary election, Bayrou outlined security and budgetary measures in the hopes of their participation in the new government. Bayrou faces the challenging task of addressing a significant budget deficit while struggling to reach a consensus, akin to the challenges faced by Barnier.
A poll conducted on December 19 revealed that 64% of respondents expressed dissatisfaction with Bayrou’s appointment as Prime Minister. Following gains made by the far-right Rassemblement National in the European Parliament elections last June, President Emmanuel Macron called for a snap parliamentary election with the promise of bringing clarity to the political landscape. However, no single party or bloc secured a majority, resulting in a fragmented parliament divided into three main factions. Macron’s nominees for Prime Minister have thus far been unable to secure the necessary majority support to withstand an anticipated vote of no-confidence.
The nation remains on edge as the formation of the new government remains pending, with expectations high for the incoming administration to address the pressing challenges facing France and navigate the complexities of a fractured political landscape. The delay in announcing the new government underscores the gravity of the situation in Mayotte and the need for a focused and stable leadership to guide the nation through turbulent times.
(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
