The search for France’s next prime minister continues

Already the day following the French National Assembly election, incumbent Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said he would resign. But President Emmanuel Macron asked him to stay at the post until further notice. The election did not produce a majority for any of the blocs, and it is still uncertain who can form a government.

It is Macron’s responsibility to appoint a new prime minister, and a new government must survive a vote of confidence in the National Assembly. On the other hand, the French constitution says nothing regarding when or who Macron should point to.

Can continue until following the Olympics

Macron may point to a new prime minister next week, when the newly elected parliament opens.

Another possibility is that Macron asks Attal to continue until following the Paris Olympics, which begin on July 26. Then the left-leaning New People’s Front (NFP) bloc will also have more time to agree on a candidate. The NFP became the largest in the French election, ahead of Macron’s alliance Ensemble. The far-right party Nasjonal samling (RN) received the third most mandates.

The centrist politician Macron has rejected a government with both left-wing radicals (LFI) and RN. On Wednesday this week, he asked the National Assembly to find “a broad coalition”.

Several possible candidates

An important question is who the NFP will promote as a candidate. The bloc consists of both the LFI, the Greens, the Communist Party and the Socialist Party.

A recent candidate to become prime minister is now the communist Huguette Bello (73), according to the AFP news agency. She previously sat in the National Assembly and has the support of both LFI and De Grønne, in addition to her own Communist Party.

The Socialist Party, on the other hand, would rather have its party leader Olivier Faure as the new prime minister. according to Financial Times Marine Tondelier, the leader of the Green Party, is also a good candidate for the position.

Yre’s right-wing party was in the best position following the first round of elections, but following the second round the result was third place. Some in the party have now suggested that a technocrat government would be the best solution.