Macron rejects Prime Minister’s resignation
French President Emmanuel Macron refused the resignation of the country's prime minister, Gabriel Attal, asking him on Monday to remain temporarily as the head of the government after chaotic election results left the government in limbo.
Attal posted a selfie on his X platform just before heading out to offer his resignation, which was rejected by Macron, "for the time being in order to ensure the country's stability."
Results from the surprise snap elections showed New Popular Front emerging winner with 182 seats making it the largest group but well short of the 289 required for an absolute majority necessary to form a government.
Macron's Ensemble alliance won 163 seats and took second place while Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally and its allies were relegated to third place with 143 seats.
The polls saw French voters split the legislature on the left, centre and far right, leaving no faction even close to the majority needed to form a government.
The results from Sunday's vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Union's second-largest economy.
The political deadlock of the polls could also have far-ranging implications for the war in Ukraine, global diplomacy and Europe's economic stability.
Still, at least one leader said the results were a relief.
Macron gambled that his decision to call snap elections would give France a “moment of clarification”, but the outcome of the polls have showed the opposite. Attal on Sunday made clear that he disagreed with Macron's decision to call the surprise elections.
No clear figure has emerged as a possible future prime minister. Macron says he will wait to decide his next steps, and heads to Washington this week for a NATO summit.