section_path: Aftermath/Prime Ministerial appointment/Appointment background
section_name: Appointment background
paragraph_text: Appointment background
  
  After the dissolution of the 16th legislature by Macron on 9 June 2024, the early legislative elections took place on 30 June and 7 July. While the National Rally was originally anticipated to obtain a relative majority, it came third behind the New Popular Front and Ensemble.
  
  Then-Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, having only served six months in office, presented his resignation to Macron, who accepted it on 16 July. The day before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, the New Popular Front proposed that Lucie Castets be nominated as prime minister. In reaction, arguing that "no one won ", Macron announced the holding of consultations to form a government.
  
  On 16 August, at the end of the Olympic Games, Macron invited party leaders and presidents of parliamentary groups from both chambers to the Palais de l'Élysée on 23 August to try to form a government. After the President received the party leaders and the presidents of parliamentary groups, Macron's office announced in a press release on 26 August that Castets would not be appointed prime minister.
  
  On 2 September, Emmanuel Macron received nominations from Bernard Cazeneuve, the former Socialist Party Prime Minister from 2016 to 2017, and Xavier Bertrand, a former Hauts-de-France region president. Faced with the risk of a motion of censure, the candidacy of Michel Barnier was considered on 4 September.
  
  After the dissolution of the 16th legislature by Macron on 9 June 2024, the early legislative elections took place on 30 June and 7 July. While the National Rally was originally anticipated to obtain a relative majority, it came third behind the New Popular Front and Ensemble.
  
  Then-Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, having only served six months in office, presented his resignation to Macron, who accepted it on 16 July. The day before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, the New Popular Front proposed that Lucie Castets be nominated as prime minister. In reaction, arguing that "no one won ", Macron announced the holding of consultations to form a government.
  
  On 16 August, at the end of the Olympic Games, Macron invited party leaders and presidents of parliamentary groups from both chambers to the Palais de l'Élysée on 23 August to try to form a government. After the President received the party leaders and the presidents of parliamentary groups, Macron's office announced in a press release on 26 August that Castets would not be appointed prime minister.
  
  On 2 September, Emmanuel Macron received nominations from Bernard Cazeneuve, the former Socialist Party Prime Minister from 2016 to 2017, and Xavier Bertrand, a former Hauts-de-France region president. Faced with the risk of a motion of censure, the candidacy of Michel Barnier was considered on 4 September.
  
  After the dissolution of the 16th legislature by Macron on 9 June 2024, the early legislative elections took place on 30 June and 7 July. While the National Rally was originally anticipated to obtain a relative majority, it came third behind the New Popular Front and Ensemble.
  
  Then-Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, having only served six months in office, presented his resignation to Macron, who accepted it on 16 July. The day before the opening of the Paris Olympic Games, the New Popular Front proposed that Lucie Castets be nominated as prime minister. In reaction, arguing that "no one won ", Macron announced the holding of consultations to form a government.
  
  On 16 August, at the end of the Olympic Games, Macron invited party leaders and presidents of parliamentary groups from both chambers to the Palais de l'Élysée on 23 August to try to form a government. After the President received the party leaders and the presidents of parliamentary groups, Macron's office announced in a press release on 26 August that Castets would not be appointed prime minister.
  
  On 2 September, Emmanuel Macron received nominations from Bernard Cazeneuve, the former Socialist Party Prime Minister from 2016 to 2017, and Xavier Bertrand, a former Hauts-de-France region president. Faced with the risk of a motion of censure, the candidacy of Michel Barnier was considered on 4 September.