Macron accepts PM Attal's resignation

YEREVAN, JULY 17, ARMENPRESS. French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal on Tuesday, France24 reports citing the presidential office. Attal will lead a caretaker government with restricted powers until a new government is named. 

The leftist New Popular Front alliance has still not managed to name a consensus candidate for prime minister after snap legislative elections earlier this month.

The caretaker government will run current affairs in the eurozone's second-largest economy but cannot submit new laws to parliament or make any major changes, France24 adds, citing experts. Its role will include making sure that the Olympics, that start on July 26, run smoothly.

This period would also give political parties more time to build a governing coalition after the July 7 election runoff left the National Assembly without an overall majority. 

A broad alliance – called New Popular Front (NFP) – of Socialists, Communists, Greens and the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) won the most seats, with 193 in the 577-strong lower chamber. 

Macron's allies came second with 164 seats and the far-right National Rally (RN) third at 143.