Macron ‘to accept PM resignation’: What happens next for France?

French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to accept the resignation of prime minister Gabriel Attal and his government tonight (July 16).

A meeting of ministers (Conseil des ministres) took place today, however at the end none of the attendees confirmed whether the resignation had been accepted during the two-hour meeting.

Gabriel Attal reportedly expressed his gratitude to the president for appointing him as prime minister at the beginning of the year.

The prime minister’s resignation – which was initially submitted after the second round of the legislative elections on July 7, but rejected by president Macron, will instead be accepted tonight, many French media now report citing government sources.

Read more: Macron letter to French people sets out terms to name new prime minister

According to the sources, Mr Attal will be given the role of ‘gestion des affaires courantes’ (current affairs manager) and continue to oversee some day-to-day running of the country, until a new prime minister has been chosen. 

‘Transition period’ to begin, but new PM still unknown

A transition period will begin once Mr Attal’s resignation is accepted, which can in theory last an indefinite amount of time, before the next prime minister is chosen.

During this time, it is likely that the focus will be on ensuring the Olympic Games runs smoothly and not on legislative changes. 

The new Assemblée nationale will convene for the first time on Thursday (July 18), to appoint a new president of the political chamber, the voting patterns for which may indicate new political alliances. A number of other roles will be voted on, including the head of bipartisan committees and ceremonial positions.

It may be that Mr Macron’s centrist coalition – which includes Gabriel Attal and the current cabinet – is propped up by other parties in the chamber, including the right-wing Les Républicains, and thus returns to a majority.

Although combined they will still not have enough seats to form an absolute majority in the chamber (unless breakaway MPs from other parties also join), this would put them as the largest group, and give them the right to have the next prime minister appointed from its ranks. 

The left-wing Nouveau Front Populaire (NFP), continues to insist that as the group that gained the largest number of seats in the recent parliamentary elections - although it fell more than 100 short of an absolute majority) the prime minister should come from its ranks. 

However, infighting and factional discord means the group have not yet chosen a candidate to be appointed to the role, if they remain the largest group in the Assemblée nationale.

Read more: Why this week should clarify (a bit) the political situation in France