Will Macron Pick a Muslim of Moroccan Origin To Head the New Government?

An-Nahar, Lebanon, August 22

French President Emmanuel Macron is consulting with the heads of French parties and parliamentary groups to decide on appointing a new prime minister who can secure broad support in parliament. This move comes in response to the recent legislative elections that resulted in a fragmented political landscape, with no single party or alliance achieving an outright majority of 289 out of 577 seats. Neither the leftist New Popular Front nor the Republicans or Marine Le Pen’s National Rally managed to gain a dominant position. The Ensemble block, under Macron’s umbrella, also failed to clinch a clear majority. Through these consultations, Macron aims to form the largest possible majority, ensuring the appointment of a prime minister capable of managing the country without constant disruptions. The New Popular Front holds the most seats in parliament but lacks internal cohesion, as the Socialists and La France Insoumise frequently clash on various issues. The Front has proposed Lucie Castets, an official in the Paris municipality, but Macron opposes her appointment. In a controversial move, officials in the French parliament raised the possibility of invoking Article 68 of the Constitution to dismiss President Macron without consulting his allies, causing further discord. This maneuver appeared designed to prevent Castets’ appointment. Amid these tensions, two new potential candidates for the premiership have emerged: Bernard Cazeneuve and Xavier Bertrand. Cazeneuve, a respected figure within socialist circles and among some Republicans, served as both prime minister and interior minister under former President François Hollande. He is seen as a unifying figure opposed to France Insoumise. Bertrand, a successful minister under former President Nicolas Sarkozy, expressed readiness to accept the premiership, but his candidacy faces strong opposition from Republican leader Laurent Wauquiez, making it difficult for him to gain leftist support. A surprising third candidate is Karim Bouamrane, the mayor of Seine-Saint-Denis. [Editor’s Note: Bouamrane is the mayor of Saint-Ouen-sur-Seine.] Of Moroccan origin and a self-described secular socialist, Bouamrane gained prominence after his suburb successfully hosted participants in the Olympic Games. Dubbed “the Obama of Seine” by the German newspaper Die Welt, Bouamrane also garnered attention in Le Figaro Magazine and Le Monde, which highlighted his opposition to France Insoumise. Despite his recent rise to fame, he remains relatively unknown on the national stage. As one French diplomat remarked, “It’s the moment of the unknown. Macron often likes to surprise everyone with unexpected names,” recalling his appointment of former Prime Minister Jean Castex to the position of prime minister. Other names in circulation include former Socialist minister Arnaud Montebourg, known for his role as foreign trade minister under Hollande, and Michel Barnier, a former European commissioner and right-wing minister. Macron is meticulously weighing his options and consulting extensively before deciding, especially with the upcoming budget discussions and vote on October 1. While Cazeneuve appears to be a strong contender who could garner broad support, the president’s final choice remains unpredictable. —Randa Takieddine (translated by Asaf Zilberfarb)