No respite for re-elected Macron as parliamentary elections loom

By Sophie Louet and Ingrid Melander

PARIS -French President Emmanuel Macron enjoyed no respite on Monday as, hours after he won re-election by defeating the far right’s Marine Le Pen, political opponents called on voters to deny him a parliamentary majority.

If he fails to score another victory in the June 12 and 19 parliamentary elections, the pro-European, centrist president will struggle to advance with his pro-business agenda, including unpopular plans to push back the retirement age.

“Voting isn’t over, the legislative elections are the third round,” said Jordan Bardella, a close Le Pen ally, telling voters: “Don’t put all the power in Emmanuel Macron’s hands.”

The hard left’s Jean-Luc Melenchon, who came third – just behind Le Pen – in the April 10 first round of the election, said Macron had been elected “by default”.

“Don’t give up,” he told supporters. “You can beat Macron (in the parliamentary election) and choose a different path.”

In recent French legislative ballots, the president’s party has always won a majority in parliament.

Should the outcome be different this time, Macron would have little choice but to name a prime minister from another party, ushering in what has traditionally been a tense period of “cohabitation” during which presidential powers are severely curbed.

COHABITATIONRISK

During a cohabitation, the president remains the head of the armed forces and retains some foreign policy influence but the government has responsibility for most other day-to-day matters of state and policy.

“The reality is there is more to the French election story than Macron’s win yesterday,” said Rabobank FX strategist Jane Foley.

Final results of Sunday’s runoff showed Macron took 58.54% of the vote. While a clear win, the result also gave the far right its biggest share of the presidential ballot on record.

Macron and his allies pledged to govern differently and listen more to voters, hoping it will help them win a crucial majority in parliament.

France’s unemployment rate dropped to its lowest in 13 years during Macron’s first term, and its economy – the world’s seventh largest – outperformed other big European countries as well as the broader euro currency zone.

But his sometimes abrasive style and pro-business reforms, including a law that makes it easier to fire people, have stirred much discontent, especially amid leftwing voters. Macron acknowledged in a low-key victory speech that many had voted for him mainly to thwart his far-right challenger. [nL2N2WN0A3

“Many in this country voted for me not because they support my ideas but to keep out those of the far right. I want to thank them and know I owe them a debt in the years to come,” Macron said in his late-night speech.

“We will have to be benevolent and respectful because our country is riddled with so many doubts, so many divisions.”

Macron’s message was that things would be different from his first term.

“Our first job will be to unify,” parliament leader Richard Ferrand, a close ally of Macron, told France Inter, saying lawmakers would involve voters more in their decision-making.

‘FEET OF CLAY‘

Macron’s margin of victory was well below the 66.1% he scored against Le Pen in 2017.

The conservative daily Le Figaro wrote in its main editorial on Monday: “In truth, the marble statue is a giant with feet of clay. Emmanuel Macron knows this well…He will not benefit from any grace period.”

That also means Macron can probably expect more of the protest rallies that marred some of his first mandate.

“He’s not going to do another five years of the same mandate, that’s clear. We won’t let him do it,” said 63-year-old administrative worker Colette Sierra.

“If he does, I think people are ready to take to the streets if there isn’t the right kind of coalition government.”

But some voters were genuinely happy with Macron’s victory.

“I’m very happy about the result because this president has already steered us through several challenges,” said 65-year-old truck driver Lucien Sozinho. “He has shown courage, and there you have it, that’s the result.”