France is in limbo as its politicians continue to battle it out

France’s Gabriel Attal has resigned as prime minister. President Emmanuel Macron even made a ceremony out of it. And yet, here we are: still with Attal as prime minister in a caretaker role. They say this is likely to continue until September, or perhaps even longer. No government proposal has emerged since the elections. The left-wing alliance cannot agree over whom to nominate as prime minister and when. Forget the feverish haste after the elections. The left is now taking its time. Did they miss the moment, and will it be too late for them?

During the ten days of negotiations that followed the election result earlier this month, the left-wing parties stood by their initial positions: La France Insoumise (LFI) wants no compromise on its programme; the Socialists see themselves as essential in government; while the ecologists play small to avoid becoming an arbiter between the two main forces.