French President Emmanuel Macron declined the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Monday, requesting that he continue in his role temporarily after an election resulted in a fragmented legislature.
The French electorate divided the legislature among left, center, and far-right factions, with none achieving the majority required to form a government. The outcome of Sunday’s vote risks stalling the European Union’s second-largest economy.
Macron had hoped that calling snap elections would bring clarity, but the results, less than three weeks before the Paris Olympics, created more uncertainty. The French stock market initially fell but quickly rebounded, as markets had feared an outright victory by either the far-right or leftist coalition.
Prime Minister Attal, who had expressed his willingness to remain if necessary, offered his resignation on Monday morning. Macron, who appointed him seven months ago, immediately asked him to stay on “to ensure the stability of the country.” Macron’s key political allies were present at the meeting with Attal at the presidential palace, which lasted about 90 minutes.
Attal had previously voiced disagreement with Macron’s decision to call for early elections. The two rounds of voting left no clear path for forming a government, whether for the leftist coalition that finished first, Macron’s centrist alliance, or the far right.
Newly elected and returning lawmakers were expected to gather at the National Assembly to begin serious negotiations. Macron himself is set to leave midweek for a NATO summit in Washington.
The political stalemate could significantly impact the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy, and Europe’s economic stability. However, one leader viewed the election results positively.
“In Paris enthusiasm, in Moscow disappointment, in Kyiv relief. Enough to be happy in Warsaw,” wrote Prime Minister Donald Tusk, former European Union Council head, late Sunday on X.
Official results released early Monday showed that none of the three main blocs secured the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the more powerful of France’s two legislative chambers. The New Popular Front leftist coalition came in first with just over 180 seats, followed by Macron’s centrist alliance with more than 160 seats, and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally, which secured more than 140 seats, significantly improving on its previous best of 89 seats in 2022.
Macron has three years left in his presidential term. Instead of consolidating support, many voters used the election to express dissatisfaction with inflation, crime, immigration, and Macron’s governance style.
The New Popular Front’s leaders quickly urged Macron to let them attempt to form a government and propose a prime minister. The faction aims to reverse many of Macron’s key reforms, undertake a substantial public spending program, and adopt a harsher stance against Israel due to its conflict with Hamas. However, it remains unclear who among the left could lead the government without alienating essential allies.
“We need someone who offers consensus,” said Olivier Faure, head of the Socialist Party, which joined the leftist coalition and was still determining its seat count on Monday.
Macron warned that the left’s economic plan, involving tens of billions of euros in public spending, funded partly by wealth taxes and higher taxes on high earners, could be disastrous for France, which is already criticized by EU watchdogs for its debt.
A hung parliament is unprecedented in modern France, leading to mixed reactions from the public.
“What pollsters and the press were telling us made me very nervous so it’s a huge relief. Big expectations as well,” said Nadine Dupuis, a 60-year-old legal secretary in Paris. “What’s going to happen? How are they going to govern this country?”
The agreement between the left and center to block the National Rally was largely effective. Many voters prioritized preventing the far-right from gaining power, supporting its opponents in the runoff, even if they weren’t from their usual political camp.
“Disappointed, disappointed,” said far-right supporter Luc Doumont, 66. “Well, happy to see our progression, because for the past few years we’ve been doing better.”
National Rally leader Le Pen, who is expected to make a fourth run for the French presidency in 2027, said the elections laid the groundwork for “the victory of tomorrow.”
The election campaign was marred by racism, antisemitism, Russian disinformation campaigns, and reports of more than 50 candidates being physically attacked—an unusual occurrence in France.
Unlike other European countries with coalition governments, France lacks a tradition of cross-party alliances to form a majority. The country’s centralized governance, with many decisions made in Paris, adds to the complexity.
