Left-wing surge in France thwarts far right's power bid

Coalition conundrum looms as surprise election outcome delivers hung Parliament

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PARIS French President Emmanuel Macron on July 8 asked his prime minister to stay on for now, pending what will be difficult negotiations to form a government after a surprise left-wing surge in an election that delivered a hung Parliament.

The leftist New Popular Front (NFP) emerged as the dominant force in the election on July 7, thwarting Ms Marine Le Pen's quest to bring the far right to power.

With no single group securing a working majority, the outcome heralded a period of volatility before the Paris Olympics and raised uncertainty among investors about who would run the euro zone's second-largest economy.

"It's not going to be simple, no, it's not going to be easy, and no, it's not going to be comfortable," said Green party leader Marine Tondelier. "It's going to take a bit of time."

Possible scenarios include the left forming a minority government and the cobbling together of an unwieldy coalition of parties with almost no common ground.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, a centrist and ally of Mr Macron, tendered his resignation but it was rejected. "The President has asked Gabriel Attal to remain prime minister for the time being in order to ensure the country's stability," Mr Macron's office said.

A fragmented Parliament will make it hard for anyone to push through a domestic agenda and is likely to weaken France's role in the European Union and further afield.