President Emmanuel Macron of France spoke out for the first time on Wednesday, three days after the inconclusive legislative elections. He emphasized the need for some time to establish a broad coalition of what he referred to as “republican forces” to form a government.
With only 16 days left until the Paris Olympics, it remains uncertain if a new government will be in place by the start of the games. President Macron has requested Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to continue in an interim role, rejecting his resignation.
In a letter addressed to the French citizens, President Macron stated that “nobody won” the elections he had called unexpectedly last month. This statement is likely to unsettle the New Popular Front, a left-wing alliance that secured around 180 seats in the National Assembly. Despite emerging as the leading party, the alliance fell short of the required 289 seats for a majority. The New Popular Front intends to nominate a candidate for prime minister this week, further escalating political tensions.
The French Constitution grants the president the authority to appoint the prime minister without a specific timeframe. Unlike other European nations with parliamentary systems, such as Italy and the Netherlands, France has not traditionally engaged in prolonged negotiations for coalition governments and their agendas.
