France was plunged into political crisis this week when the government was toppled barely three months after being formed, raising fears that the instability could trigger financial instability across the eurozone.
Outgoing Prime Minister Michel Barnier, who was supported by the centrists and the conservatives, was ousted over his attempts to push through an austere budget for 2025, with the aim of reducing France’s eye-watering deficits.
Faure is expected to join other opposition leaders in heading to the Elysée Palace on Friday for talks with Macron. The president said on Thursday that he would appoint a new prime minister “in the coming days” who would represent “all the political forces that will join [government], or at least won’t topple it.”
The move from the Socialist party leader is a sign of growing rifts in the pan-left coalition the New Popular Front, only days after they voted against the government with the support of Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Front.
Disagreements between center-left Socialists and their coalition partner the far-left France Unbowed party are an open secret and both have been accused of only sticking together for electoral reasons.
Faure’s comments immediately drew fire from another left-wing coalition partner, the Greens, whose leader, Marine Tondelier, warned the Socialists to “be careful” in talking to Macron.