An exit poll suggests Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally have fallen short in the French parliamentary election.
New Popular Front set to get 172-192 seats, with Marine Le Pen’s far-right RN and allies down in third.
The far right National Rally’s Marine Le Pen, who is expected to run for president in 2027, has said that victory for the party “is only delayed.”
French PM Gabriel Attal offers to resign
French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has offered to hand his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron tomorrow morning.
Speaking after the snap French elections revealed no party would be able to form a majority government, Mr Attal said he would withdraw tomorrow morning.
“Even though we had three times better results than it being envisaged, it doesn’t mean that it’s a majority,” said Mr Attal.
“So, faithful to the Republican tradition, I will actually withdraw tomorrow morning.”
Mr Attal’s party Ensemble – the same party as Mr Macron – is expected to take 150-175 seats in the National Assembly.
He added: “I think about my duty to respect the sovereignty of the people. So that’s the image that I have of my functions as a prime minister.
“Ladies and gentlemen, this evening there’s a new era. There’s a new era, as far as I’m concerned, from tomorrow.”
But Attal says he will remain in the post during the Paris Olympics and for as long as needed.
The polling projections show that no party has won an outright majority. There likely will be weeks of intense political negotiations to choose a new prime minister and form a government.
France’s president risks being forced to share power with a prime minister opposed to his pro-business, pro-European Union policies.
Attal became France’s youngest prime minister earlier this year.
Macron to ‘wait’ before making decision
Mr Macron is currently analysing the exit poll and will wait for the full picture to emerge in parliament before taking the necessary next decisions, according to the French presidency.
“The president, as guarantor of our institutions, will respect the choice of the French people,” the statement adds.
Mr Macron will “wait” before making any decision about the new government.
A reminder that this parliamentary poll was called early by Mr Macron, who dissolved parliament after the National Rally made huge gains in European elections.
Peoplesmind