France's PM to resign amid centrist coalition's loss in elections
3 Min Read
Gabriel Attal intends to resign from position but is ready to serve the country in light of the Olympics, which are hosted by Paris.
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French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal delivers a speech after the second round of the legislative elections, Sunday, July 7, 2024, in Paris. (AP)
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said on Sunday that he plans to submit his resignation on Monday morning after the ruling coalition failed to get a majority vote in the country's second round of parliamentary elections.
"Staying true to the traditions of the Republic and my principles, tomorrow morning I will submit my resignation letter to the President of the Republic," Attal said in a briefing.
He noted that his party's performance showed better results in the second round than it did during the first one, but it was insufficient to gain the majority of seats in parliament.
However, Attal stated that he would be ready to serve as France's prime minister "for as long as it takes," as Paris will be "hosting the entire world" in the upcoming weeks, in light of the 2024 Summer Olympics which will be held from July 26 to August 11.
French left leads tight poll ahead of Macron alliance, National Rally
A broad left-wing coalition is leading a closely contested French legislative election on Sunday, with no single group securing an absolute majority, initial projections reveal.
The New Popular Front (NFP) alliance is projected to secure between 172 and 215 seats in parliament, while President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance is expected to capture between 150 and 180 seats.
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Meanwhile, the right-wing National Rally (RN) is forecasted to gain between 115 and 155 seats, significantly lower than anticipated after topping the first round of voting on June 30, according to projections from four major polling firms.
In response to the projections, French leftist figurehead Jean-Luc Melenchon of the France Unbowed party called for Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's resignation, asserting that the New Popular Front is prepared to form a new government.
"Our people have decisively rejected the worst-case scenario," Melenchon said. "The prime minister must step down... The New Popular Front is ready to govern."
In contrast, right-wing party leader Jordan Bardella criticized what he described as "an alliance of dishonour" between Macron's centrist forces and the left, following the election outcome where the National Rally appeared poised to secure fewer seats than expected.
Despite acknowledging the RN's significant electoral gains, Bardella lamented, "These electoral pacts have thrown France into the arms of the extreme left."
The elections determine the members of Parliament to form the total 577 constituencies of the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament.
France went to the polls on Sunday for the second round of a pivotal election. Parliamentary elections normally take place every five years, using a two-round voting system.
