The left-wing coalition in France demands the right to form a government

The left-wing coalition, which won the most seats in the French National Assembly in a surprise vote, has demanded the immediate right to form a government even though no party won a majority of seats.

It is unprecedented in modern French history to have a divided parliament. Sunday’s vote raised the risk of paralysis for the European Union’s second-largest economy.

Parliament is divided between the left-wing New Popular Front coalition, centrist allies of French President Emmanuel Macron and the far-right National Rally.

On Monday, Mr Macron asked Prime Minister Gabriel Attal to continue to deal with current affairs, despite Attal resigning less than three weeks before the start of the Paris Olympics.

Mr. Macron leaves for the NATO summit in Washington on Wednesday.

The three main parties in the left-wing coalition — the far-left France Unbowed, the Socialists and the Greens — have begun negotiations to find a candidate for prime minister.

The coalition in a statement called on Mr Macron to “immediately turn to the New Popular Front” and allow it to form a government. It said Mr Attal’s “long detention” could be seen as an attempt to erase the election results.

“We solemnly warn the president of the republic against any attempt to take over the institution,” the statement said, adding: “If the president continues to ignore the results, it will be tantamount to a betrayal of our constitution and a coup against democracy, which we will firmly oppose.”

The left-wing coalition includes former socialist French president François Hollande, who made a surprise return to the political scene as one of the most prominent candidates in the election, winning a seat in his hometown.

He is considered a key figure, but has not spoken to journalists as he has joined other members of the Socialist Party.

The new Popular Front “is the leading republican force in this country and therefore its responsibility is to form a government… to implement the public policies expected by the French people,” said Green Party MP Cyrielle Chatelain.

Talks within the left-wing coalition are now hampered by internal divisions, as the goal of its hasty formation in recent days — keeping the far right out of power in France — has been achieved.

Some people want a person with extreme left-wing views to become prime minister, while others, closer to the centre-left, prefer a more tolerant person.

The French Prime Minister is accountable to Parliament and can be dismissed by a vote of no confidence.

“France’s stalwart legislators enter the National Assembly not as an opposition force… but as a force that intends to govern the country,” said far-left lawmaker Mathilde Panot.

Socialist Party chief negotiator Johanna Rolland said the next prime minister would not be Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the controversial and far-left founder of the France Unbowed party who has angered many moderate politicians.

Mr Mélenchon, who did not run in the parliamentary elections, joined the talks in the National Assembly.

In an interview with France 2 television, Ms Rolland suggested the left-wing coalition could work with centre-left members of Mr Macron’s coalition.

Some have come to terms with the need to make arrangements and come to terms.

“I think the French have sent us a clear message. They don’t want to give an absolute majority to any particular political bloc, so they’re telling us to listen to each other, to work together, and that’s what we have to do,” said Yael Braun-Pivet, a member of Mr Macron’s centrist alliance and a former president of the National Assembly.

According to official results, all three main blocs failed to win the 289 seats needed to control the 577-seat National Assembly, the more powerful of France’s two legislative chambers.

The results showed the New Popular Front could win just over 180 seats, Macron’s centrist coalition over 160 and Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally over 140.

Mr. Macron has three years left in his presidential term.