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You’d think it would be time for the centrists to compromise with the left, but that seems unlikely…

The French electoral system seems so alien. To win a parliamentary election (albeit a coalition), and not having the leader of the largest party as prime minister is wild.

France’s constitution allows the president to choose whoever he wants as prime minister. In practice, because parliament can force the resignation of the government, the head of state invariably chooses someone who will be acceptable to the assembly.

Normally that would be someone from the largest bloc in parliament – but appointing a radical left prime minister would run the risk of repeated no-confidence votes backed not just by the centre right and far right, but possibly from the president’s camp too.