Macron Is Still Banking On Socialists to Break France’s Gridlock

(Bloomberg) -- French President Emmanuel Macron is looking to join forces with the Socialist party, a strategy that would split a large left-wing coalition in the National Assembly and potentially return enough power to centrists to be able to break the country’s political gridlock.  

Outgoing Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, a close ally of the president, on Thursday called for an alliance with the Socialist Party. At the moment, the Socialists are part of a large left wing group that also includes the radical far-left France Unbowed, which is fiercely opposed to any cooperation with the mainstream.