French President Emmanuel Macron will keep the current cabinet of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal in place, but only in a temporary capacity until a new government is appointed, the Élysée Palace in Paris announced on Tuesday.
The French president has accepted Attal’s resignation, which he submitted more than a week ago following the defeat of Macron’s centrist camp in parliamentary elections.
He then asked Attal and the government to continue their duties until a new government is in place. This transition period could last a few weeks and at least until the end of the Olympic Games, ministers attending the meeting said, according to French media.
Macron had initially rejected Attal’s request to resign, citing “the stability of the country”.
The interim government cannot initiate new projects or laws. However, due to the current ambiguous political situation, it cannot be removed by a vote of no confidence.
The 17 ministers who won seats in parliament in the elections can now vote on the distribution of leadership positions during the opening session of the National Assembly on Thursday.
During the cabinet meeting, Macron called on his political grouping to submit a proposal for a governing coalition or partnership, according to reports from participants. However, Macron’s alliance finished second in the parliamentary elections.
The victorious left-wing alliance united in the New Popular Front (NFP), which Macron had called upon to form a government, is now on the verge of a split. The bloc has become divided in the search for a candidate for the post of prime minister.
Macron has no deadline for naming a new prime minister, so the impasse that has condemned France to a political stalemate could continue for some time.
A dissolution of parliament and new elections are not possible for another year.
