JEAN-LUC MELENCHON called on the French National Assembly today to oust President Emmanuel Macron if he does not make New Popular Front (NPF) candidate Lucie Castets prime minister.

Writing in the Tribune de Dimanche, Mr Melenchon accused the president of planning to appoint a prime minister “without taking into account the outcome of the last elections.”

Mr Macron has refused to appoint a new prime minister since his Together alliance came third in July’s parliamentary election. 

He has announced talks with political leaders for this Friday on forming a new government, with allies briefing that he would like Xavier Bertrand, an MP from the right-wing Republicans (who came fourth), to lead a centrist coalition. 

A spokesperson for the president said he remained “open” to a Castets premiership, but the left are suspicious of the terms. Ms Castets is an MP of the Socialist Party, part of the NPF, but Mr Macron has also said that the government should not include representatives of that alliance’s largest component, Mr Melenchon’s France Unbowed.

Impeaching Mr Macron would require the convening of a special court by the National Assembly and Senate together.