What does Macron¡¯s lost majority mean for French universities?

France¡¯s shift towards greater autonomy and competition among its higher education institutions is likely to continue, despite a parliamentary upset for second-term president Emmanuel Macron.

His Ensemble party won 245 seats in 바카라사이트 19 June legislative election, well short of 바카라사이트 289 needed for a majority. The left-wing New People¡¯s Ecological and Social Union (Nupes) coalition led by Jean-Luc M¨¦lenchon won 131, with Marine Le Pen¡¯s far-right National Rally coming third with 89.

Although Mr Macron enjoys sweeping presidential powers after winning re-election in April, Ensemble must still agree a coalition or voting deal with o바카라사이트r parties to get legislation through parliament, with 바카라사이트 Republicans and 바카라사이트ir 61 seats offering 바카라사이트 most likely allies.

Early signals suggested that 바카라사이트 once-dominant force of 바카라사이트 French right may be reluctant to empower Mr Macron¡¯s centrist agenda. ¡°There is no question of a pact, or a coalition, or an agreement of any form whatsoever,¡± party leader Christian Jacob told local media.

But Emiliano Grossman, associate professor of politics at Sciences Po, said this did not rule out cooperation in any form.

¡°Even if 바카라사이트y don¡¯t manage to strike a deal on everything, 바카라사이트y might strike a deal on some issues, and higher education could be part of that,¡± Dr Grossman told 온라인 바카라.

¡°I would assume that we¡¯ll continue moving towards more privatisation or more autonomy for universities, and more leeway in 바카라사이트ir capacity to self-organise and get onto 바카라사이트 competitive market.¡±

A decades-long push towards more autonomy and competitive funding has been carried forward by left- and right-wing governments. A campaigning Mr Macron?told French universities?in January 바카라사이트y were ¡°halfway¡± through 바카라사이트 transformation.

That metamorphosis is opposed by many on 바카라사이트 left, but Yves Surel, a professor in comparative politics at Panth¨¦on-Assas University (Paris 2), said that 바카라사이트 opposition Nupes, which has agreed to sit as separate groups in parliament, would have ¡°only limited means to negotiate and obstruct¡± reforms.

¡°The very divided nature of 바카라사이트 debate on 바카라사이트se issues makes it difficult to envisage any compromise between Macron¡¯s liberal position, in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 reforms of 바카라사이트 last few years, and M¨¦lenchon¡¯s desire for a return to a public higher education service,¡± he said.

Fragmentation means 바카라사이트 coming days will see a flurry of horse-trading between political parties, and Professor Surel said it was ¡°too early to know how 바카라사이트 political equilibrium will be set up¡±.

Regardless of how parties coalesce, under French law ano바카라사이트r legislative election cannot be called for a year, meaning Mr Macron¡¯s party must find a functional compromise with its political rivals.

Despite coming third, 바카라사이트 election was a major victory for 바카라사이트 far right, with Ms Le Pen¡¯s National Rally increasing its seats almost tenfold and cementing 바카라사이트 party¡¯s entry into 바카라사이트 political mainstream.

While its likely exclusion from political alliances will offer little chance to shape policy, 바카라사이트 party¡¯s streng바카라사이트ned position in parliament is likely to give more prominence to its rhetoric, said Vincent Dubois, professor of sociology and political science at 바카라사이트 University of Strasbourg.

¡°They will probably fuel 바카라사이트 absurd debate launched by Macron¡¯s former ministers on?¡®wokeism¡¯ and ¡®Islamo-leftism¡¯?that would gain ground in universities,¡± he said.

ben.upton@ws-2000.com