France’s President Emmanuel Macron accepted Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s resignation on Tuesday, and the cabinet will now operate only as a caretaker, according to the presidency.
French politics have been paralysed since an inconclusive snap election earlier this month, with parties in the National Assembly trying to form a governing coalition and no successor to Attal in sight.
The outgoing premier and his team would “handle day-to-day business until a new government is named,” the Elysee Palace stated.
“To bring this period to an end as soon as possible, republican forces must work together to build unity,” it said, referring to major political groups but excluding the far right and hard left.
Earlier today, President Emmanuel Macron announced his plan at the first cabinet meeting since his allies were decisively defeated in a snap parliamentary election aimed at clarifying the political landscape.
Macron informed the ministers that he would ask Attal to remain in his position “for some weeks,” likely until after the Paris Olympics, which commence on July 26, according to meeting participants.
This extension provides political parties with additional time to form a governing coalition, following the July 7 election runoff that resulted in no overall majority in the lower house.
– Leftist Infighting –
The New Popular Front (NFP), a broad alliance comprising Socialists, Communists, Greens, and the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), secured the most seats, with 193 in the 577-seat lower chamber.
Macron’s allies finished second with 164 seats, and the far-right National Rally (RN) came third with 143 seats.
The divided NFP alliance has been struggling to agree on a consensus candidate for prime minister.
However, internal conflicts—especially between the LFI and the more moderate Socialists—have hindered all attempts to find a candidate capable of surviving a confidence vote in parliament.
Over the weekend, the Socialists dashed the hopes of Huguette Bello, a 73-year-old former communist member of parliament and president of the regional council in France’s overseas territory of La Reunion, who had the support of other left-wing parties.
In response, the LFI rejected Laurence Tubiana, a 73-year-old economist and climate specialist without political affiliation, who was backed by the Socialists, Communists, and Green party.
Leftist lawmaker Francois Ruffin on Tuesday called the NFP’s infighting “shameful,” a day after Green member of parliament Sandrine Rousseau expressed her frustration, saying the disagreements made her “very angry.”
– ‘No Warmth’ –
On Saturday, Attal was elected leader of his party’s National Assembly contingent, as he considers his future outside the government. He stated that he would “contribute to the emergence of a majority concerning projects and ideas.”
Observers note that Macron and Attal are still hoping to find a right-of-center majority in parliament, which would exclude both the LFI and the far-right RN from any new coalition.
At Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, Macron emphasized that it was the “responsibility” of his allies to propose “a majority coalition or a wide-ranging legislative pact.”
He added that this would help preserve the government’s “economic achievements” and promote “social justice.”
Following their resignation, Attal and other cabinet members will be able to take their seats in parliament and participate in coalition building.
Parliament will reconvene on Thursday to begin filling the National Assembly speaker position and other key roles.
Cracks have emerged between Attal and his former mentor Macron, with Attal seemingly blaming Macron for the electoral defeat, only six months after becoming France’s youngest-ever head of government at 34.
At Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, there was “no tension” visible between the two men, but “no warmth” either, according to one participant.
Macron still has almost three years remaining in his presidency before the 2027 elections, when far-right leader Marine Le Pen is expected to make another bid for power.