Embattled Macron urges opposition to ‘leave in-fighting behind’

THE French president said yesterday that opposition groups had signalled their readiness to work with his government on “major topics”, after his party lost its parliamentary majority.

In a televised address to the nation, Emmanuel Macron said “they are available to advance on major topics”, such as the cost of living, jobs, energy and health.

Mr Macron ruled out any attempt to create a “government of national unity” after his Together party on Sunday fell short of the majority needed to legislate without the support of others, saying such a move was “not justified” at this stage.

He acknowledged that the parliamentary elections had highlighted social problems in France, but called on opposition parties to “leave in-fighting behind” and move “beyond politics”.

This, Mr Macron said, meant that “together we will have to learn a new way to govern and to legislate”.

He said urgent draft laws, especially to alleviate the impact of inflation and rising energy prices, would be submitted to parliament over the summer. Mr

Macron called on the opposition parties to “clarify... in the coming days, how far they are willing to go” in their support of such measures, which he said would not be financed by higher taxes.

He added that he had been re-elected in April on a platform of “ambitious reform”, which he expected to carry out.

The parliamentary impasse should not lead to “stagnation”, Mr Macron said, but to “dialogue and the willingness to listen to each other”.

His address came after French opposition leaders earlier in the day slapped down his proposal to create a crossparty “government of national unity”.

Meanwhile, French prosecutors yesterday launched an investigation into rape allegations against a newly appointed female minister in Mr

Macron’s government, compounding his political woes after he lost his parliamentary majority last week.

The allegations date back to when Chrysoula Zacharopoulou – now state secretary for development, Francophonie and international partnerships – worked as a gynaecologist. French media said the allegations were linked to her professional activity.