Macron to hold consultations next week to form new government

French President Emmanuel Macron will start meeting political leaders next Friday in a bid to appoint a new prime minister and give France a new government.
“The appointment of a prime minister will follow on from these consultations and their conclusions,” the Elysée Palace said in a statement Friday, announcing a series of meetings between the French president and the leaders of parliamentary groups and parties on Aug. 23.
The announcement comes after weeks during which the Olympics put French politics on pause.
This type of consultation is an unusual exercise in French politics, at least in recent years, as the president could appoint a prime minister from the same political camp, knowing that the candidate would earn the parliament’s support.
But things are different this time as, following a snap election in July, none of the country’s three major political blocs has an absolute majority in parliament.
Possible new prime ministers include left-wing Lucie Castets, former socialist heavyweight Bernard Cazeneuve and conservative Xavier Bertrand.
Castets is the only official candidate in the race. She has been designated by the pan-left New Popular Front (NFP) — which came in first at the election and includes the Socialists, Greens, Communists and France Unbowed movement.
“The French expressed at parliamentary elections a willingness of change and of a broad rally. In a spirit of responsibility, all political leaders must work to implement this willingness,” the Elysée added.
The talks are set to start one month after the outgoing government headed by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal resigned but remained in caretaker charge until a new government takes office.