Newly elected lawmakers have gathered at the National Assembly in France following a divisive election result that split the legislature among left, center, and far-right parties. President Emmanuel Macron has tasked his prime minister, Gabriel Attal, to continue managing day-to-day affairs as the country navigates this political uncertainty, with Macron set to attend a NATO summit in Washington soon.
The fractious election left no single faction with enough seats to form a government, posing a potential risk of gridlock for France, the EU’s second-largest economy. The leftist coalition, the New Popular Front, which secured the most seats, is advocating for the opportunity to lead the government and is in talks to nominate a prime minister from among its three main parties.
Despite internal divisions within the leftist coalition on the choice of prime minister, negotiations are ongoing to select a candidate who can garner enough support in parliament. Discussions are also underway on the possibility of collaborating with center-left members of Macron’s alliance, with former President Francois Hollande’s Socialist lawmakers actively involved in the process.
While the far-right party of Marine Le Pen and her allies experienced significant gains in the elections, all major blocs fell short of the 289 seats required to secure a majority in the 577-seat National Assembly. This unprecedented political landscape in France’s modern history necessitates cooperation and compromise among the different factions to effectively govern the country.
As Macron continues in his presidency with three years remaining in his term, the diverse assembly of lawmakers faces the crucial task of finding common ground to ensure the stability and functionality of the French government in the coming years.
