In France, President Emmanuel Macron rejected Prime Minister Gabriel Attal’s resignation after the ruling party failed to secure a majority in the snap legislative elections. Macron has asked Attal to remain as Prime Minister for the time being to ensure the country’s stability.

In the two rounds of legislative elections held on June 30 and July 7, Macron’s coalition finished second with 163 seats. The left-wing parties’ alliance, the New Popular Front (NFP), secured a relative majority with 182 seats in the 577-member National Assembly.

The French president announced the dissolution of the National Assembly on June 9 and called for new legislative elections after his Renaissance party coalition suffered a heavy defeat in the European Parliament elections.