In a decisive move more than two weeks after the second round of legislative elections, the left-wing coalition has chosen Lucie Castets as their common candidate for the position of Prime Minister.
This announcement, confirmed by BFMTV and reported by Politis and l’Humanité, concludes a fifteen-day negotiation period.
On Tuesday, 23 July, the Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP) designated Lucie Castets as their unified candidate for Matignon. This decision followed a day of intensive talks among the leaders of the four left-wing parties. Castets, 37, currently serves as the director of budget for the city of Paris.
In her response to the AFP, Castets expressed her acceptance of the nomination “with humility but with great conviction,” positioning herself as a “credible and serious” candidate for the role of Prime Minister. She also pledged to advocate for the “repeal of the pension reform” should she assume office.
Marine Tondelier, the national secretary of the Ecologist party, took to social media platform X to announce, “Validated by the consensus of our four political formations. The next step: Macron must recognise the election results and appoint her.”
Fumée blanche 🌈
On le dit, on le fait.
Le #NouveauFrontPopulaire a sa Première ministre : @CastetsLucie.
Validée au consensus de nos quatre formations politiques.
Prochaine étape : Macron doit reconnaître le résultat des élections et la nommer.#OnContinue 🌻 pic.twitter.com/7SaZylwDjd
— Marine Tondelier (@marinetondelier) July 23, 2024
A Distinguished Background
The four coalition parties quickly released a joint statement justifying their choice. Castets, who has been an influential figure in the “Nos Services Publics” collective, is noted for her active engagement in public service advocacy and opposition to the pension reform extending the retirement age to 64. Her career includes significant work in combating tax fraud and financial crime.
Despite being relatively unknown to the general public, Castets’ professional journey is marked by a strong commitment to state service and local governance. Currently serving as the director of finance and procurement for the city of Paris, she has been a prominent voice in defending public services against the outgoing government’s policies.
Arnaud Bontemps, co-founder of “Nos Services Publics,” praised Castets’ dedication, highlighting her strong stance on fiscal justice and the fight against tax evasion. “She is deeply committed to education, healthcare, and social justice,” he remarked, adding that she is “very approachable and deeply connected with the people.”
Looking Forward
The NFP, which emerged as the leading force in the legislative elections but did not secure an absolute majority, insists on its right to the Prime Minister’s office. They present Castets as a candidate strengthened by the unwavering support of the coalition’s parties.
As the political landscape in France shifts, all eyes are now on President Emmanuel Macron, who faces the task of recognising the election outcome and considering the coalition’s nomination. The appointment of Castets would mark a significant shift in the French political scene, potentially impacting key policies and reforms, particularly in the realms of public services and pension laws.
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