Macron Seeks Consensus Amid Hung Parliament to Appoint New Premier

President Emmanuel Macron has invited party leaders for discussions to appoint a new premier after a hung parliament resulted from July 7 elections. Outgoing Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's government has managed the Paris Olympics in a caretaker capacity. Macron aims to build a broad and stable majority for government stability.

President Emmanuel Macron has extended an invitation to party leaders from both of France's parliamentary chambers for discussions scheduled for Aug. 23, as he looks to appoint a new premier, according to an official statement released on Friday.

Following a surprising July 7 election that resulted in a hung parliament, dealing a blow to Macron's centrist coalition, Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's outgoing government has been navigating the country through the Paris Olympics in a caretaker role. Despite a political truce in place for the Games, Macron had initially intended to name a new prime minister by mid-August.

The upcoming talks with party group leaders in the National Assembly and Senate aim to create "the broadest and most stable majority possible to serve the country," Macron's office stated. The French president has so far ignored the candidate backed by the left-wing alliance, the New Popular Front, which won the most votes. Officials close to Macron believe that a new premier should garner support from a National Assembly characterized by a center or center-right majority, aligning with Macron's political perspective.

(With inputs from agencies.)