Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy has thrust himself into the ongoing debate over the appointment of a new prime minister, advocating for a candidate from his conservative political faction, asserting that “France is right-wing.”
In a candid interview with Le Figaro, Sarkozy called on his political family, the conservative Republicans, to push for a right-wing prime minister instead of yielding to what he described as the easier option of selecting someone from the left. “I would like my political family to work towards appointing a right-wing prime minister, rather than giving in to the easy option of naming someone from the left,” Sarkozy stated.
Sarkozy argued that France’s political center of gravity has shifted to the right, and therefore, President Emmanuel Macron is justified in ruling out the possibility of appointing someone from the left-wing New Popular Union (NFP), which won the legislative elections but without a majority. According to Sarkozy, such a choice would lack sufficient support in the National Assembly.
Acknowledging the complexity of the current political landscape, Sarkozy urged “all governing parties”—excluding the far-right National Rally (RN) and the radical left La France Insoumise (LFI)—to set aside their immediate partisan interests and work towards a legislative pact. “The right must take responsibility for governing,” Sarkozy insisted, highlighting the necessity for a conservative-led government.
Sarkozy suggested Xavier Bertrand, president of the Hauts-de-France region, as a potential candidate for the prime ministerial role, calling him “a good choice.” However, he dismissed the idea of appointing former Socialist Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve, citing his strong ties to former President François Hollande and the political shift to the right.
The former president also took the opportunity to criticize the Socialist Party, accusing it of being “held hostage” by LFI within the NFP coalition, which also includes communists and environmentalists. Recent tensions between LFI and the Socialist Party have emerged over their responses to Macron’s veto, with some Socialist deputies expressing a desire to re-engage with the president, against the wishes of NFP representatives.
Jean-Luc Mélenchon, founder of LFI and former presidential candidate, responded to Sarkozy’s remarks by stressing the need for calm and criticized Sarkozy for labeling the NFP as extreme-left and for warning of a potential “coup.”
As Macron continues his meetings with political group leaders—excluding RN and NFP—there has been little sign of a consensus emerging for the appointment of a new prime minister. The Republicans described their meeting with Macron as “disappointing,” criticizing the president for failing to present “any new position” or “vision” for the future.
During an official visit to Serbia, Macron stated that he would announce his decision on the new prime minister “at the appropriate time” and emphasized that he is seeking “the best solution for the country.”