On election night

France’s prime minister announces his resignation

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal did not call the election, but he is bearing the consequences.(Bild: APA/AFP/ARNAUD FINISTRE)

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal is not known to have caused the early elections in France - it was President Emmanuel Macron - but the head of state's party colleague is now bearing the consequences. Attal announced his resignation on the evening of the election.

"In accordance with republican tradition and my principles, I am submitting my resignation to the President tomorrow," said Attal in Paris on Sunday. The president is free to accept the resignation or not. 

However, it is quite possible that Macron will leave the cabinet in office as a caretaker government for the time being, at least until after the Olympic Games in France, which end on August 11. The government camp has already rejected a prime minister of the left: no one can say that he has won for the time being, emphasized Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin - "especially not Monsieur Mélenchon". Macron does not want to make any decisions for the time being and wants to wait for the composition of the new National Assembly, according to reports from the Elysée Palace.