France Faces Political Gridlock: National Assembly's Pivotal Speaker Election

France's National Assembly convened to elect a speaker following a hung legislature resulting from snap elections. President Macron's acceptance of Prime Minister Attal's resignation adds to political uncertainty. Major blocs, including the New Popular Front, Macron's centrists, and the far-right National Rally, are fiercely contending for influence.

France's National Assembly convened on Thursday to elect a speaker, a pivotal decision following chaotic snap elections that resulted in a hung legislature. President Emmanuel Macron's call for parliamentary elections produced a split among three major political blocs: the New Popular Front leftist coalition, Macron's centrist allies, and the far-right National Rally party, none of which secured an outright majority.

The session came on the heels of Macron accepting the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and other ministers on Tuesday, though he has asked them to remain in a caretaker capacity until a new government is appointed. This political uncertainty comes as France gears up to host the Paris Olympics later this month.

With six candidates vying for the crucial job of speaker, each bloc is making a strategic push to influence the appointment of the next prime minister. Notably, the New Popular Front has put forward André Chassaigne, a veteran Communist lawmaker. Union leaders and left-wing activists have also staged protests to pressurize Macron into naming a prime minister from their coalition. The timeline for Macron's decision remains uncertain.

(With inputs from agencies.)