However, President Macron may be selling “La Poudre de Perlimpin” to opposition members. This old term roughly translates to snake oil, and was famously used by the president himself in a 2017 debate with far-right Marine Le Pen.
The center-left, which holds the key to this plan because of its parliamentary seats, has so far been reluctant to appeal to Macron’s calls for institutional stability and a sense of patriotic duty by compromising on building a national system. Macron appears unfazed by his attempts to do so. He called this a “general interest” government.
However, the stalemate appeared to continue as participants withdrew. Conservative Party leader Laurent Wauquiès said he would “not discuss a coalition contract with people who do not share our values” and opposed any prime minister who tried to apply the platform of the pan-left New Popular Front.
Marine Tonderia, from the French Green Party, said she stopped the discussion because she was convinced Mr Macron was not serious about negotiations.
“We arrived with a simple question… What compromises, what concessions is the presidential campaign prepared to make? And I said, ‘Nothing,’ and walked away,” Tonderia said. said.
Conspicuously absent from Tuesday’s meeting were the far-left party France Unboud and the far-right National Rally. Only groups willing to “compromise” were asked to attend, the presidential palace said.
