France should have right-wing PM, says Sarkozy

France is a right-wing country and should have a right-wing prime minister, former French President Nicolas Sarkozy believes.

This summer’s snap French election and European Parliament election have shown that France is right-wing, and the parties on the right must assume responsibility, Sarkozy, who was president from 2007-2012, said in an interview with Le Figaro.

Sarkozy called on the conservative Les Républicains, the party he founded, to work to have a right-wing prime minister appointed.

“France is right-wing, probably as right-wing as it has ever been,” Sarkozy said in the interview published Friday evening. France is facing political, social and financial crises at the same time, he said.

Sarkozy also called on the political parties to make a compromise for the sake of the country. “There is no ideal solution. The political forces of government must understand this,” he said. “Should we add crisis to crisis; or should we try, in the name of the country’s interest, to rise above partisan interests?” he asked.

France has been without a new government for almost two months after French President Emmanuel Macron in June called a surprise election, which delivered a chaotic result where no party gained enough seats to secure a majority in parliament.

Macron earlier this week refused to name the left-wing coalition’s candidate — Lucie Castets — as a prime minister, arguing that this would lead to instability. He launched a new round of talks with political leaders on Tuesday, and is potentially could name a new prime minister on Sunday.

The political turmoil in France continues as Éric Ciotti, contested leader of the Les Républicains, announced on Saturday he is launching a new party called L’Union des droites pour la République (The Union of Rights for the Republic).

Ciotti was expelled from his party after attempting to join forces with far-right National Rally in June ahead of the early legislative elections, but a court overturned the expulsion. The court will rule on the fate of Ciotti as head of Les Républicains on Oct. 14.