French President Emmanuel Macron has asked Prime Minister Gabriel Attal not to resign immediately "to ensure the stability of the country". He thanked Attal for the campaign he had led, although it had not gone as he had hoped.
Following the announcement of the exit poll on Sunday evening (7 July), Attal, who belongs to Macron's party, announced that he would resign on Monday (8 July). However, he said he would remain in office as long as necessary.
Macron's coalition came second in the parliamentary elections, behind the New Popular Front (NFP), an alliance of left-wing parties. Attal believes this means his government no longer has a mandate.
