France's National Assembly Faces Tense Speaker Election Amid Political Turmoil

France's National Assembly is set to elect its speaker after a chaotic election led to a hung legislature. The main contenders are Yaël Braun-Pivet and André Chassaigne, representing centrist and leftist coalitions, respectively. President Macron's decision on the new prime minister remains pending amid protests and political tension.

France's influential National Assembly will elect its speaker Thursday evening, following a chaotic early election called by President Emmanuel Macron, which resulted in a hung legislature. The leading contenders are outgoing Speaker Yaël Braun-Pivet of Macron's centrist party and communist lawmaker André Chassaigne from the leftist coalition.

The recent parliamentary elections resulted in a split between three major political blocs: the New Popular Front leftist coalition, Macron's centrist allies, and the far-right National Rally party, leaving no party with a majority. As a result, Macron accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal and other ministers, placing them in caretaker roles until a new government is appointed—just as France gears up for the Paris Olympics.

Macron, speaking from a European leaders' summit in Woodstock, England, declined to comment on the domestic political situation or provide a timeline for appointing a new prime minister. With no definitive winner emerging from the initial voting rounds, the third round will determine the speaker based on the most votes cast. Meanwhile, protests by unions and left-wing activists put pressure on Macron to choose a prime minister from the New Popular Front.