Spotlight on Macron’s lawmakers
Rivals question lack of political experience as French parliament convenes after election
France’s new parliament was sitting for the first time yesterday as rivals of President Emmanuel Macron questioned a lack of political experience among deputies of his majority-holding Republic on the Move (LREM) party.
LREM’s landslide win in parliamentary elections earlier this month consolidated Macron’s presidential win in May. Like Macron, most LREM lawmakers never previously held elected public office.
Some items on Macron’s agenda of far reaching probusiness reforms are already facing resistance. Some trade unions were due to hold protests near parliament to coincide with the start of the session to voice their opposition to Macron’s plan to relax France’s stringent labour code.
‘Baptism of Fire’ ran the headline of conservative daily Le Figaro, in reference to the large number of political novices among the LREM. Of its 308 deputies, only 27 served in the previous parliament.
“Will they be docile or rebellious,” the newspaper asked in its editorial. “It’s legitimate to ask how they will react when the political climate becomes less favourable for Emmanuel Macron. This moment will inevitably come, perhaps as early as July with the contentious labour law.”
Other items on Macron’s reform agenda include a new bill designed to clean up French politics and an anti-terror law has also drawn criticism from both the right and the left, as well as from human rights groups.
The government faces one of its first big test tomorrow when the public auditor will give an update on the state of public finances.