Macron Accepts PM Attal’s Resignation Amid Political Turmoil

Macron Accepts PM Attal's Resignation Amid Political Turmoil/Reuters

VoM News Desk | July 17, 2024 | 01:55 PM IST | Breaking News | Follow on Google News

Macron Accepts PM Attal’s Resignation Amid Political Turmoil

Macron Accepts PM Attal’s Resignation Amid Political Turmoil

Key Highlights:

1. Macron accepts Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s resignation.
2. New Popular Front (NFP) fails to name a prime ministerial candidate.
3. Macron’s Ensemble (ENS) alliance takes second place in parliamentary elections.

French President Emmanuel Macron has formally accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal. According to a press release from the Elysee Palace, Macron has asked Attal to continue leading the caretaker government until the appointment of the next administration. This development occurs just ahead of the Olympics set to begin in France next week.

In the recent parliamentary elections, the left-wing coalition New Popular Front (NFP) emerged as the largest bloc but has been plagued by infighting, preventing them from naming a prime ministerial candidate. The NFP, which includes parties from the far-left France Unbowed to the more moderate Socialists and Ecologists, won 182 seats in the National Assembly, falling short of the 289 needed for an absolute majority. Despite their numerical advantage, the bloc has not agreed on a candidate for the prime minister’s post.

By custom, the French president appoints a prime minister from the largest group in parliament, but there remains no clarity on which party within the NFP will take the lead. In a July 16 press release, Macron stated, “In order for this period to end as quickly as possible, it is up to the republican forces to work together to build a rally around projects and actions in the service of French women and men.”

In the parliamentary runoff elections last week, Macron’s Ensemble (ENS) alliance secured 163 seats, placing second. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally (RN) and its allies were third with 143 seats. After the elections, Attal offered his resignation, but Macron initially refused, asking him to remain as caretaker until a new cabinet is appointed.

French lawmakers are set to meet on Thursday to elect the president of the National Assembly in two votes requiring a majority of the 577-seat body. If the first two votes do not yield a winner, the candidate with the largest support will be selected in a third vote. Following his resignation, Attal and his fellow ministers who are lawmakers will be allowed to vote in the election of the National Assembly president, potentially influencing the divided parliament’s decision.

Source: CNN

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