French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to accept Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s resignation following the unexpected results of the recent snap parliamentary elections. This decision aims to maintain stability in France during a politically uncertain time.
On Sunday evening, Attal announced his resignation after preliminary results from the election indicated a significant shift in the political landscape. The French left-wing alliance, New Popular Front (NFP), emerged as the surprising victor in Sunday’s run-off election. Despite this win, the NFP did not secure an absolute majority, which complicates the formation of a new government.
The official results, released by the Interior Ministry on Monday, confirmed the NFP’s victory but highlighted its inability to dominate the parliament completely. The NFP went into the elections without a lead candidate, making their win even more unexpected.
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Macron’s centrist Ensemble bloc finished in second place, while Marine Le Pen’s far-right nationalist National Rally (RN), initially seen as the favorite after the first round of voting, came in third. The lack of an absolute majority for any group creates a challenging scenario for forming a stable government.
President Macron has asked Prime Minister Attal to remain in his position temporarily. The Élysée Palace stated, “President Macron has requested Prime Minister Attal to continue his role to ensure the country’s stability during this transitional period.”
The political upheaval following the election results underscores the volatile nature of French politics. The inability of any party to secure a majority necessitates negotiations and potential coalitions to form a functional government. As France navigates this political complexity, the refusal of Attal’s resignation by Macron aims to provide a semblance of continuity and stability.