Attal Seeks Renaissance Presidency, Would Be Unable To Continue As PM

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has confirmed that he will seek the presidency of the centrist Rennaisance party group in the National Assembly, a move that would be incompatible with his continuation in office as PM. The Renaissance group holds its internal vote for the National Assembly presidency tomorrow (13 July). Renaissance deputy Sylvain Maillard, former group president, has indicated that Attal is likely to be the only candidate, with neither Interior Minsiter Gerald Darmanin or former PM Elisabeth Borne seeking the position.

• Under the Constitution of the French Fifth Republic, the head of a party in the National Assembly has to sit as a deputy within the chamber, not as a minister on the gov't benches. As such, once Attal is (likely) elected group head, President Emmanuel Macron would be under pressure to accept Attal's resignation as PM (offered in the wake of the legislative election) ahead of the first meeting of the new parliament on Thursday 18 July.
• It is unclear whether by 18 July the leftist New Popular Front (NFP) - which emerged from the elections as the largest group - will have agreed on a PM candidate. On 11 July, the largest party in the NFP, the far-left La France Insoumiseput forwardfour potential candidates including founder Jean-Luc Melenchon. There is no chance of his candidacy winning majority backing in the National Assembly.
• The centre-left Socialist Party are seeking the position for their leader Olivier Faure, a more acceptable choice for the centrist Ensemble bloc, but one that could split the NFP.