The New Front Populaire (NFP) reached a consensus to propose Lucie Castets, a dedicated defender of public services, for the position of Prime Minister. This decision comes just an hour before President Emmanuel Macron’s televised interview and follows 16 days of intense negotiations that nearly fractured the leftist coalition. The NFP, comprising socialists, ecologists, communists, and La France Insoumise, finally united behind Castets.
Lucie Castets, 37, boasts an impressive résumé. A graduate of the prestigious École Nationale d’Administration (ENA), she has served as a Treasury official and worked in financial fraud enforcement. She is also a co-founder of the collective “Nos services publics,” dedicated to public service advocacy.
Despite her extensive professional background, her political experience is minimal, limited to a candidacy in the regional elections in Normandy nearly a decade ago under the Socialist Party (PS) banner. It was, in fact, the PS that proposed her name, which was ratified by the leaders of the NFP, as reported by Aurélien Devernoix from RFI’s political service.
Castets is actively involved in associations defending and promoting public services and opposes the proposed retirement age increase to 64. A statement from the NFP highlights her background in fighting fiscal fraud and financial crime.
The NFP, claiming the Prime Minister’s role since emerging as the leading force in the legislative elections without an absolute majority, asserts that Castets will benefit from their full support in the government she will lead. The Socialist Party expressed satisfaction with her nomination, noting her long-standing association with the party, particularly aligning with the former PS leader Martine Aubry’s faction.
However, La France Insoumise members emphasize that Castets is no longer affiliated with any particular PS faction, ensuring the impression of independence and coalition unity.
An LFI deputy who has worked with Castets described her as highly competent, genuinely leftist, and aligned with Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s platform of significant change. With this nomination, the NFP demonstrates its commitment to a unified front and its vision for France’s future leadership.