Transforming the Republic

A delicate balancing act as Macron chooses his team to reform France, writes Françoise Boucek

The World Today Updated 24 November 2020 3 minute READ

Françoise Boucek

Lecturer, School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary University 
of London

Emmanuel Macron’s thumping victory against the populist National Front’s Marine Le Pen on May 7 was just the start of the new president’s determination to transform the political landscape of France.

Macron quickly followed up his win by appointing the conservative Edouard Philippe from Les Républicains as Prime Minister. Together, they formed a well-calibrated, multiparty, gender-balanced cabinet, underscoring Macron’s skill in bringing people together from all sides of the political spectrum and from civil society.

The coalition building continues through his selection of candidates to compete in June’s legislative elections. The president’s centrist party, République en Marche (REM), launched a year ago, has refrained from putting forward candidates in about 50 electoral districts where allies from other parties on the left and right are running, including former Socialist prime minister Manuel Valls.

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