French President Emmanuel Macron is anticipated to formally accept the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Tuesday, while retaining him as the head of a caretaker government. Attal tendered his resignation following a tumultuous election outcome that left the government in a state of uncertainty. Macron had requested Attal to continue temporarily as the government's leader until a final decision is made, especially with France gearing up to host the Paris Olympics.
The resignation of the prime minister is likely to be officially acknowledged by Macron by Tuesday evening, allowing Attal to assume his role as a lawmaker in the National Assembly. This move would also shield him from a potential no-confidence vote in parliament and enable him to lead Macron's centrist allies.
The caretaker government under Attal's leadership will primarily focus on managing day-to-day affairs, with the opening session of the National Assembly scheduled for Thursday. Macron, who recently conducted a Cabinet meeting, does not have a set timeline for appointing a new prime minister.
France has been grappling with a political deadlock since the National Assembly elections earlier this month resulted in a split among the major political factions. The New Popular Front leftist coalition emerged with the most seats but lacked a clear majority to govern independently. The leftist coalition's internal discussions have been marred by disagreements over the selection of a new prime minister, with the Socialists and other parties failing to reach a consensus.
The Socialist Party leader emphasized the need for continued dialogue and collaboration within the leftist coalition to meet public expectations and fulfill their governance commitments. Meanwhile, the far-right National Rally criticized Macron's decision to retain Attal, labeling it as undemocratic and a failure to address the French people's demands.
The ongoing political turmoil underscores the challenges facing France as it navigates through a period of transition and seeks to establish a stable government amidst divergent political interests.
