French President Emmanuel Macron has formally accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. According to a press release from the Elysee Palace, Macron has asked Attal to continue leading the caretaker government until the appointment of the next administration. This development comes just ahead of the Olympics, set to start in France next week.
In the recent parliamentary elections, the left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP) emerged as the largest bloc but has failed to build consensus and nominate a prime ministerial candidate. The NFP, which includes parties ranging from the far-left France Unbowed to the more moderate Socialists and Ecologists, won 182 seats in the National Assembly. However, this is short of the 289 seats required for an absolute majority.
Despite being the largest group, the NFP has not put forward a candidate for the prime minister’s post. As per custom, the French president appoints a prime minister from the largest group in parliament, but there is still no clarity on which party within the NFP will take the lead.
In a July 16 press release, Macron urged republican forces to collaborate: “In order for this period to end as quickly as possible, it is up to the republican forces to work together to build a rally around projects and actions in the service of French women and men.”
In the parliamentary run-off elections, Macron’s Ensemble (ENS) alliance won 163 seats, placing second. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) and its allies took third place with 143 seats.
Attal had offered his resignation immediately after the elections, but Macron initially refused and asked him to remain as a caretaker until a new cabinet is appointed. Meanwhile, French lawmakers are set to meet on Thursday to elect the president of the National Assembly. The election will involve two votes requiring a majority of the 577-seat body; if no candidate is elected, a third vote will select the candidate with the largest support.
Following their resignation, Attal and his fellow ministers who are lawmakers will be allowed to vote in the election of the National Assembly president, potentially providing crucial votes in the divided body.
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