France’s leftist coalition demands the right to form a government after fractured parliament vote

Associated Press

PARIS (AP) — The leftist coalition that won the most seats in France’s National Assembly in surprise results is now demanding the immediate right to form a government, even though no grouping won a majority of seats. It’s unprecedented in France’s modern history to have a fractured parliament. The European Union’s second-largest economy faces the risk of paralysis. The New Popular Front also says the “prolonged retention” of President Emmanuel Macron’s prime minister could be seen as an attempt to ignore election results. The leftist coalition itself has internal divisions now that its goal of keeping the far right from power in France has been achieved.