On Thursday, the newly elected 577 MPs in France's National Assembly will elect the president of the lower house of parliament. This vote could be decisive in nominating the country's future prime minister,
Euronews reports.
Since no progress has been made in finding a candidate for France’s prime minister, the left-wing alliance New Popular Front (NFP), which won the most seats in the country's legislative elections, has since shifted its focus and agreed on a nominee for the presidency of the National Assembly on Wednesday evening.
After three days of intense discussions, the left-wing alliance composed of the Socialists, the hard-left France Unbowed party, the Greens, and the Communists have picked André Chassaigne, the leader of the Communist party in the National Assembly to represent them.
It's set to be a high-stakes vote that will determine the balance of power between the three main political blocs — the NFP, the presidential alliance and the far-right National Rally (RN), none of which have an absolute majority.
The president of the National Assembly is the fourth highest-ranking person in the French government and has the role of leading the debates in the chamber.
They can also appoint three members of the Constitutional Council, one member of the High Council of the Judiciary and three Higher Audiovisual Council members.**
To be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of votes from the 577 MPs in the National Assembly in the first or second round of voting.
If that’s not the case, a third round is organised, and the candidate who obtains a relative majority wins.
