Violent clashes have erupted on the streets of France after the country’s left-wing coalition’s surprising win in the snap general election prevented the far-right from taking power.

Protesters were seen launching flares, setting e-bikes on fire, and clashing with police as thousands of officers were deployed across France.

When President Emmanuel Macron defended his decision last month to call snap legislative elections, he repeatedly argued that France needed a “clarification” of its political situation.

But on Monday, after the French cast their final ballots, the situation was anything but clear – a nationwide vote for the 577 seats in the National Assembly, the country’s more powerful house of Parliament, did not produce a working majority.

Instead, it left unanswered questions about who might be France’s next prime minister, who might form the next government, and where the country is headed.

So what were the results that have left France’s government in a lurch?

Three large blocs have emerged from the elections, none big enough to govern alone and all possibly too antagonistic to work together.

However, none have reached the threshold for an absolute majority of 289 seats, which would enable them to form a government that could survive their rivals’ no-confidence votes.

The New Popular Front, an alliance of left-wing parties including the Greens, the Communists, the Socialists, and the hard-left France Unbowed party, came in first with about 180 seats in the National Assembly.

President Macron and his centrist allies came in second with about 160 lawmakers, while the far-right, anti-immigration National Rally party and its allies trailed with about 140 lawmakers.

France’s two-round electoral system—consisting of an early vote followed by a runoff—typically results in absolute majorities dominated by a single party aligned with the president, which then forms the government.

Thus, Sunday’s outcome was quite unusual.

What Happens Next

France is not used to coalition governments.

“It’s a jump into the unknown,” said Olivier Costa, a research professor at the Centre for Political Research at Sciences Po University in Paris.

One possibility considered before the election—when pollsters predicted a much stronger showing for the far right—was a cohabitation. This occurs when a rival party to the president wins an absolute majority, forcing the president to choose a prime minister from that party or face the threat of successive no-confidence votes.

While it is possible that President Macron might have to appoint someone outside his party, none of his opponents have a majority strong enough to immediately force his hand.

Leaders of the New Popular Front insist that, since they came in first, Macron should appoint someone from their ranks as prime minister, who would then name a cabinet.

However, the party and its allies are about 100 lawmakers short of the absolute majority needed to survive no-confidence votes in the current polarized political climate.

It is very unlikely that Macron would choose someone from the far-right National Rally or the far-left France Unbowed, both of which he has labeled as “extremes” and with whom other political groups have refused to cooperate.

He could attempt to reach out to parties within the New Popular Front that share some common ground with his centrist alliance, but those parties have shown little interest in working with him.

Theoretically, Macron could appoint anyone, even someone who is not a lawmaker, as long as the appointee reflected a political consensus in the National Assembly.

Some analysts and politicians have suggested forming a broad coalition involving parties from the three main blocs that could agree on a prime minister and a limited political agenda.

But that is not easy right now.

“None of the political forces has much interest in working with one another because France’s parties are mainly designed to groom presidential candidates,” Mr Costa said, noting that many of Macron’s rivals and allies are already preparing for a presidential run in 2027 when Macron must step down.

Another possibility that has been floated is a nonpartisan cabinet of experts to run the country while a coalition deal is hammered out, but this solution is very unfamiliar to the French.

Tick Tock Of The Clock

Legally speaking, no, France’s Constitution does not mandate a deadline to appoint a prime minister and form a government.

Gabriel Attal, Macron’s current prime minister, offered his resignation on Monday, as is customary after legislative elections; however, Macron asked him to stay for the time being to ensure “stability,” according to the Élysée Palace.

At the same time, sustained gridlock will seriously hamper France’s ability to pass a budget in the fall and enact important legislation.

Could Macron resolve this by calling a new election?

Not anytime soon.

The Constitution dictates that the president must wait at least a year after a snap election to call another one.

This means the newly elected National Assembly will remain in place until then, and lawmakers can file multiple no-confidence motions without fearing a return to the polls.

So what could possibly happen?

Given the current political scenario in France, several strategies could unfold concerning the government –

The formost could be forming Coalition Government, Centrist Coalition – President Macron might attempt to form a coalition with moderate factions within the New Popular Front or other centrist parties.

This would, however, require significant negotiation and compromise on key policy areas.

Broad Coalition – Likewise, there could be an effort to create a broad coalition involving parties from all three main blocs, focusing on a limited political agenda.

This would be unprecedented and challenging for France but might be necessary to ensure stable governance.

Nonpartisan Expert Cabinet – As a temporary measure, Macron could appoint a nonpartisan cabinet of experts to run the country while coalition talks continue.

This approach while unfamiliar to the French political system could provide a solution to the current impasse.

Policy Stalemate and Gridlock – Without a clear majority or effective coalition, France might face a period of political gridlock.

This would make it difficult to pass significant legislation, including the crucial budget in the fall, leading to potential economic and social instability.

However, the inability to form a stable government could heighten political tensions and polarization, and parties might become more entrenched in their positions, making future cooperation even more difficult.

Many political actors are already positioning themselves for the next presidential election in 2027.

This forward-looking focus might hinder immediate efforts to form a cohesive government as parties prioritize their long-term strategies over short-term governance. While the Constitution prevents calling another snap election within a year, continued political deadlock might lead to renewed calls for elections once the waiting period expires.

The Bottom Line,

The next steps for France’s government will likely involve complex negotiations and potential compromises.

The immediate focus, however, will be on finding a workable coalition or interim solution to ensure governance, with all eyes on the long-term implications for the 2027 presidential race.