France's 'Olympic truce' ends, returning political tensions to the fore

• A political truce called by French President Emmanuel Macron is expiring, bringing the country's fractured political landscape back to the fore.
• Macron must appoint a new prime minister but faces an "unprecedented" backdrop that may lead to deadlock, one analyst said.
• There are further questions over how such a divided parliament will agree on any legislation, with approval of the 2025 budget looming.

Time is running out on the so-called "Olympic political truce" declared by French President Emmanuel Macron in late July, pushing the country's rocky political landscape back into focus.

The snap legislative election called by Macron for early July — just before Paris hosted the world's biggest sporting event — resulted in a hung parliament, with no party or alliance securing a majority. The left-wing New Popular Front alliance won the highest number of seats and prevented a much-discussed victory for the far-right National Rally.

For the past few weeks, however, the nation has been largely united by sporting spirit.

The usual stream of squabbling from politicians across the spectrum has dried up, and a "caretaker" government has remained nominally in place. The National Assembly's next nine-month session is not due to begin until Oct. 1.

Macron is set to remain president until his term runs out in 2027, although much of his domestic political capital has been expended after his Renaissance party's electoral battering.

One of the key questions back on the agenda now is who Macron will appoint as the new prime minister — who leads the French government, nominates ministers and instigates legislation — after the resignation of his ally Gabriel Attal.

Macron is keeping his cards close to his chest, and has not commented on