FRANCE: Macron Presser Delayed To 12 June; Left Alliance Expands To Counter RN

Wires reporting that the office of French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed a press conference for around 1200CET (0600ET, 1100BST) on Wednesday 12 June. This will be the first time Macron has spoken publicly since the announcement a snap legislative election on 30 June. The presser could be used as the launch for the centrist Rennaisance-led bloc of parties that back Macron. 

• There have been unsubstantiated rumours circling that Macron is considering resigining depending on the election result. The Elysee Palace has firmly rebutted this prospect. 
• The other piece of political speculation swirling is that Macron is willing to allow the far-right Rassemblement National (National Rally, RN) to govern should they emerge as the largest party. This 'cohabitation' between a president and PM from different parties is rare, but some pundits hypothesise that Macron could leave the path clear for RN to govern in order to allow the party the opportunity to fail, and therefore boost the prospects for a centrist presidential candidate in the 2027 election (in which Macron cannot run due to term limits). 
• The first opinion polling carried out after the calling of the election showed the RN comfortably in first place but short of an overall majority (see "FRANCE: National Rally Projected To Win 235-265 Seats In National Assembly ", 1740BST 10 June). 
• The formation of a new leftist alliance, the New Popular Front, involving almost all parties of the left and centre-left, could bolster the efforts to counter the RN's rise in support.