French President accepts Prime Minister Attal's resignation

On July 16, French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, in the context that the country is still deadlocked in forming a new government after the recent National Assembly (Lower House) election.

French President Emmanuel Macron (right) and Prime Minister Gabriel Attal during the Bastille Day military parade on Avenue Foch in Paris, France, on July 14. (Source: Reuters)

According to the French presidential office, Mr. Macron made the decision at a Cabinet meeting. However, the President asked Mr. Attal to temporarily take over the government until a new government is formed, according to AFP news agency.

Prime Minister Attal submitted his resignation to President Macron on July 8, right after the second round of the National Assembly (Lower House) elections.

In this election, the left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP) - consisting of Socialists, Communists, Greens and the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party - won the most seats, with 193 out of 577 seats in the House of Representatives.

President Macron's centrist coalition came in second with 164 seats. Meanwhile, the far-right National Rally (RN) party came in third with 143 seats.

The above number of seats of the left-wing NFP alliance is still not enough to form a government on its own, so this alliance is only allowed to choose a prime minister candidate to introduce to President Macron.

Meanwhile, disagreement in choosing a politician to take the position of prime minister has pushed France into a deadlock in forming a new government.

According to observers, neither President Macron nor Mr. Attal agreed to let a representative of LFI, the largest organization in the left-wing NFP coalition, or a representative of the far-right National Rally (RN) party take on the leadership of the new government.

Meanwhile, there is also disagreement within the NFP about the prime minister candidate.

At the above Cabinet meeting, Mr. Macron called on political parties in his coalition to propose the formation of a new majority coalition, ensuring the socio-economic development priorities previously set out by the government.

Late on July 16, Mr. Attal said he would propose meetings with political party groups to reach consensus on forming a new government. However, Mr. Attal ruled out the possibility of continuing to hold the position of prime minister.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/to-ng-thong-phap-chap-nhan-don-tu-chuc-cua-thu-tuong-attal-279023.html