French President Emmanuel Macron is working to resolve the political stalemate gripping France by appointing a new prime minister within 48 hours, party leaders who met with him told AFP on Tuesday.

This comes in the wake of the government's collapse, led by outgoing Prime Minister Michel Barnier, following a contentious budget crisis.

Government collapse sparks urgency

The previous administration, supported by Macron's centrist alliance and the conservative Republicans, failed to secure a majority in the National Assembly.

Its downfall was driven by a united left, including Jean-Luc Mélenchon's France Unbowed (LFI), and Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (RN).

Macron now faces the uphill task of forming a government with broader political support while avoiding reliance on his political foes.

One of Macron's advisors confirmed that during Tuesday's discussions, the president stressed the importance of "not depending on the RN" for governance.

However, finding common ground among France's fragmented political parties remains a daunting challenge.

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Difficult path to consensus

Macron invited leaders from across the political spectrum to the talks, excluding LFI and RN, whose influence in the hung parliament remains significant.

Greens leader Marine Tondelier stated after the meeting that Macron's camp showed no willingness to make "compromise or concession."

Meanwhile, the Socialists have made their participation contingent on appointing a left-wing prime minister, a condition conservatives have outright rejected.

Guillaume Tabard, a commentator for Le Figaro, noted that achieving even a minimal agreement involving Republicans, Greens, and Communists would require "enormous labor" and negotiations that could take weeks.

The Right and the Left dig in

While Macron seeks to build a consensus, both LFI and RN continue to assert their positions as political outsiders.

Marine Le Pen dismissed the talks as a "banquet to share out jobs," while Mélenchon warned left-wing allies of repercussions if they broke ranks with LFI's seat-sharing arrangements.

"Who thinks they can win a single seat without us?" Mélenchon told reporters, underscoring the pivotal role LFI plays in shaping the left's electoral prospects.

Macron rules out new elections

In June, Macron dissolved the parliament following right-wing gains in European elections.

During today's meeting, he ruled out another dissolution of parliament before the end of his presidential term in 2027.

He acknowledged responsibility for the earlier decision and now seeks to avoid further instability.

Read more: Dissolving parl. grave attack on France's international image: Girard