Gabriel Attal will temporarily remain in his position to ensure stability following the surprising election results, the Elysee Palace has announced.
French President Emmanuel Macron has declined the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, following the second round of national elections, which resulted in a hung parliament with no clear successor for the Prime Minister position.
The New Popular Front (NFP), a coalition of various left-leaning parties, achieved a surprising victory in Sunday’s voting, securing 182 seats in the National Assembly, according to the Interior Ministry. Macron’s centrist Ensemble alliance rebounded after a poor showing in the first round and obtained 163 seats.
The rightist National Rally (RN), considered the frontrunner after outperforming Macron’s bloc in the first round, placed third with 143 seats. However, no group managed to secure the 289 seats necessary for an absolute majority in the legislature.
Macron’s office released a statement on Monday stating that “the president has asked Gabriel Attal to remain prime minister for the time being in order to ensure the country’s stability.”
Riots broke out in Paris, Rennes, and several other cities after the polls closed, with masked groups throwing bottles at the police and setting fires in the streets. Officers dispersed the angry crowds using tear gas.
The snap election in France took place just three weeks before the 2024 Summer Olympic Games begin in the capital.
Attal stated on Sunday that following his coalition’s election loss, “in keeping with republican tradition, I will tender my resignation to the president of the Republic tomorrow morning.”
However, the Prime Minister emphasized that he would remain in his position “as long as duty requires” if his resignation is rejected. “Being prime minister is the honor of my life,” the 35-year-old stated.
Attal was appointed as Prime Minister this January, becoming the youngest and first openly gay head of government in French history. Previously, he served as the Minister of National Education and Youth, the Minister of Public Action and Accounts, and as the spokesperson for the French government.