France in Political Turmoil Ahead of Paris Olympics

With nine days to the Paris Olympics, Marine Le Pen highlights France's political disarray post-legislative elections. A fragmented parliament has paralyzed government formation, causing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and other ministers to serve in a caretaker role. Le Pen blames President Macron and the left for the chaos.

With just nine days left until the Paris Olympics, France's far-right leader Marine Le Pen has declared the country to be in a 'quagmire' following chaotic legislative elections that resulted in a fragmented parliament.

France is dangerously close to government paralysis after the elections for the National Assembly earlier this month, which produced a split among three major political factions: the New Popular Front leftist coalition, President Emmanuel Macron's centrist allies, and Le Pen's far-right National Rally party.

The New Popular Front emerged with the most seats but did not secure the majority needed to govern independently. The coalition's three main parties—the hard-left France Unbowed, the Socialists, and the Greens—have called on Macron to form a new government. However, internal disputes over the prime ministerial candidate have stalled progress.

On Tuesday, Macron accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and other ministers, asking them to remain in a caretaker capacity until a new government is appointed. There is no definitive timeline for naming a new prime minister, leaving the nation in suspense.

Le Pen criticized Macron for failing to specify when Attal's replacement will be announced, stating in an interview with BFM TV, "The French people do not know what is happening." The opening session of the National Assembly is scheduled for Thursday, adding urgency to the situation.

The leftist alliance, quickly formed for the recent elections after Macron's centrist allies were severely defeated by Le Pen's National Rally in the European Parliament vote, was a strategic move to prevent the far-right from gaining power. Leaders of the four parties in the leftist alliance have called on centrists and other left-leaning lawmakers to form 'a republican dam' in the National Assembly, aimed at blocking Le Pen's party from obtaining significant positions.

Le Pen has accused the left and Macron of anti-democratic actions by not allowing her party's elected lawmakers key positions in Parliament, saying the left-wing alliance is doing 'enormous harm to democracy.'

(With inputs from agencies.)