Hung Parliament in France After Elections

The French legislative elections have resulted in a hung parliament, with no party securing a majority in the 577-seat National Assembly. The leftist coalition, New Popular Front, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, won the most seats with just over 180, while President Emmanuel Macron's centrist alliance garnered more than 160 seats. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally came in third with over 140 seats, despite winning the most votes. The unexpected outcome has sparked concerns about potential political gridlock, economic instability, and implications for global diplomacy and the war in Ukraine. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal has announced his intention to resign in the wake of the results. Macron's decision to call early elections, hoping for clarity, appears to have backfired, leaving France facing significant political uncertainty ahead of the upcoming Paris Olympics.