French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is again set to resign his position but continuing to lead a caretaker government amid political infighting and uncertainty.
President Emmanuel Macron is expected to accept Attal’s resignation following Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, which comes after Macron’s allies suffered a significant defeat in a recent snap National Assembly election intended to clarify the political landscape.
Recall that LEADERSHIP on July 8, 2024, reported that Attal was set to resign but French President Macron declined his resignation.
Attal and his team will likely remain in their roles with restricted powers until after the Paris Olympics, scheduled to begin on July 26.
This extension would provide political parties additional time to form a governing coalition following the July 7 election runoff which resulted in a parliament without a clear majority.
The New Popular Front (NFP), a broad alliance of Socialists, Communists, Greens, and the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), emerged with the most seats, securing 193 of the 577 available. Macron’s allies followed with 164 seats, while the far-right National Rally (RN) obtained 143 seats.
However, the NFP alliance has struggled to nominate a consensus candidate for prime minister due to internal conflicts, particularly between the LFI and the more moderate Socialists.
Over the weekend, the Socialists undermined Huguette Bello’s candidacy, despite her support from other left-wing parties.
Bello, a former communist MP and president of the regional council in La Reunion, was seen as a potential unifying figure.
Conversely, the LFI rejected Laurence Tubiana, an economist and climate specialist backed by the Socialists, Communists, and Greens. The infighting has drawn criticism from within the alliance, with leftist deputy François Ruffin calling the situation “shameful,” and Green deputy Sandrine Rousseau expressing her “very angry” reaction to the disagreements.
Attal, recently elected as the leader of his party’s National Assembly contingent, has signaled his intentions to influence the formation of a new majority based on specific projects and ideas.
Observers note that both Macron and Attal are seeking a right-of-center majority in parliament to exclude the LFI and the RN from any new coalition.
Once Attal resigns, he and other cabinet members will return to parliament to engage in coalition-building efforts.
Parliament is set to reconvene on Thursday to elect the National Assembly speaker and other key positions.
Tensions have surfaced between Attal and Macron, with Attal seemingly attributing the electoral defeat to Macron.
This defeat comes just six months after Attal became France’s youngest-ever head of government at 34.
Macron, with nearly three years remaining in his presidential term, faces a potential challenge from far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who is expected to run for power again in the 2027 elections.
