PARIS — As Renault board members prepared to meet on Tuesday to consider a merger with Fiat Chrysler, the French government was scrambling to ensure that it would have influence over a proposed tie-up that could significantly change the balance of power in the global auto industry.

And another interested party to the potential deal — Nissan, Renault’s main partner in a 20-year-old car alliance — said Monday that a merger would “require a fundamental review of the existing relationship” to ensure that its interests were protected.

The cautious approach by two influential stakeholders means that the board of Renault, one of the crown jewels of French industry, won’t strike a deal Tuesday but rather decide to begin formal negotiations. A merger with Fiat Chrysler would create a behemoth that would displace General Motors as the third-largest car company in the world, behind Volkswagen and Toyota.

French Finance Ministry officials met with the chief executives of both companies in Paris in recent days in a bid to ensure the role of government, currently Renault’s largest shareholder, in a combined company, according to a person with knowledge of the meetings, who requested anonymity because of the confidential nature of the discussions.