French President Refuses to Accept Prime Minister’s Resignation and Asks Him to Stay in Office

French President Emmanuel Macron rejected, on Monday, the resignation of Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, and asked him to stay in office temporarily after the election results in light of the new leftist coalition taking the lead without obtaining an absolute majority. The French presidency said in a statement: "The President asked Gabriel to stay in office for the time being in order to ensure the stability of the country." The French Prime Minister had arrived earlier today at the President's office to submit his resignation after the parliamentary elections in which the government's political camp lost its role as the strongest coalition in the country to the left in a hung parliament. The French Interior Ministry announced, on Monday, the official figures for the voting results in the second round, which was won by parties and blocs in the National Assembly elections. According to the final results of the Ministry of the Interior, the new leftist Popular Front won 178 MPs, becoming the first group in th e Assembly. The Maa'an presidential alliance came in second with only 156 MPs, after having a majority before President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly. The National Rally party came in third with 142 deputies. Then came the Republicans and various right-wing candidates, who are attributed to 66 elected officials. There are 35 MPs from several small parties or independents. Source: National Iraqi News Agency