French President Emmanuel Macron has asked Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to remain in office temporarily, despite Attal’s resignation offer following the unexpected victory of the left-wing coalition in the French legislative elections. This decision comes as France grapples with an unprecedented political situation, with no party or coalition securing an absolute majority in the National Assembly.The New Popular Front (NFP), a left-wing coalition, emerged as the dominant force, winning between 182 and 190 seats out of 577 in the National Assembly. President Macron’s centrist alliance, Ensemble, secured approximately 160-168 seats, while Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally obtained around 140-143 seats.The lack of a clear majority has raised concerns about political stability and the formation of a new government. Macron’s decision to keep Attal in office is seen as an attempt to ensure ‘national stability’ during this uncertain period. The President has indicated that he will wait for the new parliamentary assembly to take shape before making any decisions on the way forward.Several scenarios are being considered for governing France, including a left-wing government, a broad coalition, or even a technocratic government. The situation remains fluid, with ongoing negotiations and discussions among various political forces.The election results have been celebrated by left-wing supporters and some international leaders, while causing disappointment for the far-right, which had hoped for a majority. The high voter turnout of around 66-67% underscores the significance of these elections for the French people.As France prepares to navigate this complex political landscape, the coming days and weeks will be crucial in determining the country’s governance structure and policy direction.
Key points
- President Macron has asked PM Attal to remain in office temporarily despite his resignation offer.
- The left-wing New Popular Front won the most seats but lacks an absolute majority in the National Assembly.
- France faces an unprecedented political situation with no clear majority, raising concerns about government formation and stability.
- Multiple scenarios are being considered for governing France, including potential coalitions or a technocratic government.
Contradictionsđź‘ľSome sources report slightly different numbers of seats won by each party or coalition, likely due to ongoing vote counting or different reporting times.
đź‘ľThere are varying interpretations of Macron’s decision to keep Attal in office, with some seeing it as ensuring stability while others view it as a refusal to accept the resignation.
