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Macron Delays New Government Appointment Until After Paris Olympics

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French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he will postpone naming a new government until after the Paris Olympics conclude on August 11. This decision follows a proposal from the New Popular Front (NFP), a left-wing coalition that emerged as the largest group in France’s parliament after recent elections. The NFP has put forward Lucie Castets, a relatively unknown civil servant, as their candidate for prime minister.

Macron stated that appointing a new prime minister before mid-August would “create disorder” amid the ongoing Olympics, which start with an opening ceremony in central Paris on Friday. The left-wing coalition has criticized Macron’s delay, accusing him of undermining the outcome of the recent legislative elections.

Macron had previously accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal due to significant losses for their centrist party in the elections. Attal and his team are continuing in a caretaker role until a new government is formed.

In France, the president is expected to appoint a prime minister who can secure a majority in the National Assembly. Currently, no single party holds a majority, but the NFP, with at least 182 of 577 seats, is in a strong position. The NFP’s choice, Lucie Castets, a 37-year-old economist with a background in finance and public services rather than politics, was presented just before Macron’s scheduled television interview.

Macron emphasized that the key issue is not the specific nominee but the formation of a majority in the Assembly. He plans to appoint a prime minister with the widest possible support. The delay has provoked a strong reaction from NFP members, who accuse Macron of attempting to disregard the results of the elections and deny the will of the people.

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French Prime Minister’s Last-Ditch Effort to Prevent Far-Right Triumph

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France’s fast-paced election campaign has concluded, and despite last-minute pleas against supporting the far-right, voters seem poised to deliver a historic win for the National Rally (RN) party in parliamentary elections. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has cautioned that this could lead to increased hate and aggression. Nonetheless, the party led by Marine Le Pen and the 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, who could potentially become the next prime minister, is leading in the opinion polls.

The National Rally has managed to maintain its position despite numerous accusations of racism involving both party members and supporters. The critical question now is whether they can secure an absolute majority in the two rounds of voting over the next two Sundays.

RN is preparing for a significant outcome, with polls showing 36.5% support just before the campaign ended. Their candidates aim to win many seats in the National Assembly outright, but most will be decided in run-off votes on July 7, involving two to four contenders.

A newly formed left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front, is close behind RN with 29% support, while the Ensemble alliance, led by Gabriel Attal, is at 20.5%. Attal describes both RN and the New Popular Front as extreme.

No region of mainland France supported RN more than L’Aisne in the European vote, with over 50% backing. This area already has RN MPs and a National Rally mayor, Franck Briffaut, who sees victory as inevitable, likening it to Giorgia Meloni’s win in Italy.

Briffaut and others in his party aim for an absolute majority in the National Assembly, needing at least 289 of the 577 seats. However, President Macron, who will appoint the next prime minister, has indicated he will remain in office until his term ends in 2027.

Jordan Bardella is pushing for an absolute majority and has hinted at a “government of national unity.” He has suggested including former conservative leader Eric Ciotti, despite his alienation from most colleagues. This raises questions about potential power-sharing with President Macron, which could lead to a difficult political landscape.

Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin has warned of possible unrest from both the ultra-left and ultra-right following the elections. In the northern town of Soissons, which has an RN MP, locals remain skeptical of RN’s impact, despite the party’s rebranding efforts.

RN’s platform includes “National priority,” which limits social welfare to French citizens, alongside tax cuts and restrictions on strategic jobs for dual nationals. This has raised concerns among some, especially in diverse communities.

The outcome of this election could significantly impact French politics, with the possibility of RN gaining substantial influence in the National Assembly.

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Macron picks Attal, 34, as France’s youngest PM

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Gabriel Attal’s ascension to the position of France’s youngest prime minister at 34 marks a significant move by President Emmanuel Macron to reinvigorate his presidency. Attal, who currently serves as the education minister, has experienced a meteoric rise in politics, transitioning from an obscure health ministry adviser a decade ago to becoming the first openly gay occupant of Hôtel Matignon. His association with Macron and his reputation as a skilled debater played crucial roles in his swift political ascent.

However, Attal inherits a challenging political landscape characterized by a resurgent right-wing opposition, a lack of parliamentary majority, and a president struggling to articulate a clear vision for his second term. The appointment, while strategically made to infuse new energy into Macron’s administration, raises questions about whether Attal can provide the much-needed sense of purpose and direction demanded by the public.

As Attal takes on the role previously held by Élisabeth Borne, who faced difficulties during her 20-month tenure, he must confront not only external challenges but also assert his authority over influential figures within the government, such as Gérald Darmanin and Bruno Le Maire. Additionally, with the upcoming European elections posing a potential setback for Macron’s party, there is speculation about how Attal will navigate the political landscape should the party face significant losses.

While Attal is acknowledged as a class act, respected and liked in the National Assembly, questions linger about the substance of his political stance. Some critics perceive him as a reflection of Macron, raising concerns about whether he brings a unique perspective or is merely a protegé of the president. As France looks toward the future under its youngest-ever prime minister, the success of this appointment will be contingent on Attal’s ability to address the multifaceted challenges and provide a distinct identity to Macron’s presidency.

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French PM Élisabeth Borne resigns ahead of expected reshuffle

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France’s Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne is resigning after less than two years in office, with President Emmanuel Macron gearing up for a significant reshuffling of his top team ahead of European elections later this year. Borne, the second female prime minister in France and the longest-serving in her role, will continue until a successor is named, according to a statement from the Élysée Palace.

President Macron acknowledged Borne’s contributions, stating she displayed “courage, commitment, and determination” during her time in office. Macron’s government has been under pressure due to protests over controversial policies and legislative setbacks, including a significant defeat on immigration legislation in December. The reshuffling is seen as an effort to revive political momentum and address challenges faced by the administration.

Several key figures are speculated to replace Borne, with the 34-year-old Education Minister Gabriel Attal considered the frontrunner. If selected, Attal would become France’s youngest and first openly gay prime minister. Other potential candidates include 37-year-old Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu and former Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie.

The announcement of a new prime minister is expected on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson for the Élysée Palace. The chosen candidate will face the daunting task of managing the day-to-day affairs of the government and leading the Council of Ministers. Macron’s party lost its parliamentary majority in 2022, making it challenging for the incoming prime minister to navigate the political landscape and turn the president’s policies into law. The upcoming appointment will mark the fourth prime minister since Macron’s initial election in 2017.

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France to Prohibit Female Students from Wearing Abayas in Public Schools

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The Education Minister of France has declared that students will not be allowed to wear abayas, loose-fitting full-length robes worn by some Muslim women, in the country’s state-run schools. This regulation will come into effect as the new school year commences on September 4.

France maintains a strict prohibition on religious symbols in public schools and government premises, citing their infringement of secular principles. The use of headscarves has been banned in state-run schools since 2004.

Education Minister Gabriel Attal stated that the intention is to prevent the identification of students’ religious affiliations solely through their appearance within classrooms. He emphasized that the abaya will no longer be permissible in educational institutions.

This decision follows extended debates surrounding the wearing of abayas within French schools. The prevalence of this garment in educational settings has fueled a political divide, with right-wing parties advocating for a ban, while left-leaning factions express concerns about the rights of Muslim women and girls.

Mr. Attal contended that secularism entails the freedom to advance through education and argued that the abaya represents a religious act aimed at challenging the republic’s dedication to the secular nature of education.

He pledged to provide comprehensive guidelines at the national level prior to the resumption of schools after the summer recess.

France had previously banned full face veils in public spaces in 2010, a move that elicited mixed reactions from the nation’s sizable Muslim community.

Since the 19th Century, France has enforced stringent regulations against religious symbols in schools, including Christian emblems like large crosses, to curtail any influence of Catholicism in public education. The nation has revised these laws over time to accommodate its evolving demographics, encompassing the Muslim headscarf and Jewish kippa. However, abayas had not been explicitly prohibited.

The discourse on Islamic symbols has intensified since a Chechen refugee beheaded Samuel Paty, a teacher who had shown caricatures of Prophet Mohammed to students near his school in a Paris suburb in 2020.

This announcement marks the inaugural significant policy decision of Mr. Attal, who was appointed as France’s education minister by President Emmanuel Macron in the summer of 2023 at the age of 34.

The CFCM, a national entity representing numerous Muslim associations, has asserted that articles of clothing alone do not inherently constitute religious symbols.

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