In a significant test of power balance among political forces in France, lawmakers gathered in the National Assembly for the first time since the recent election produced a deadlocked Parliament. The focus of the gathering was the election of the new president of the National Assembly, which held promising implications for the direction of the country's next government.

The July 7 snap legislative election resulted in no party securing an absolute majority, leading to a highly anticipated election for the National Assembly president. As lawmakers cast their ballots on Thursday, the political landscape remained uncertain, leaving room for speculation on which political force would emerge victorious.

After the first round of voting, no candidate managed to secure an outright majority, setting the stage for a second round. To be elected, an absolute majority was needed, or the voting would proceed to a third round, where the candidate with the most votes would win.

Although the president of the National Assembly does not hold executive powers, this election could shape the emergence of a majority, albeit not an absolute one, that could influence President Emmanuel Macron's choice for the next prime minister.

The left-wing coalition, comprised of a range of parties from the center left to the far left, which won the most seats in the election, eventually agreed on a candidate: André Chassaigne, a long-serving member of the Communist Party. Chassaigne led after the first round with 200 votes, but fell short of an absolute majority.

Other candidates in the running include Yaël Braun-Pivet, the former president of the assembly from Macron's party, and Sébastien Chenu, a prominent figure in Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally.

The election took place against a backdrop of division and skepticism, with some lawmakers refraining from shaking hands with Flavien Termet, a member of the far-right National Rally, due to the party's anti-democratic reputation. Symbolically, Termet stood by the vase used as a ballot box, positioned in front of a tapestry featuring ancient Greek thinkers.

Formal groupings in Parliament have yet to be officially formed, leading to a unique seating arrangement where lawmakers sat in alphabetical order. This arrangement led to unexpected combinations, such as Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally, sitting next to a far-left lawmaker, Antoine Leaument.

The election of the National Assembly president holds the potential to influence Macron's selection of the new prime minister, with political analyst Patrick Weil suggesting that a loss for the left-wing candidate may tempt Macron to lean towards a more right-wing government.

Amidst lawmakers' lack of trust in Macron's oversight of the political negotiations, Weil expressed hope that the newly elected president of the Assembly could help coordinate discussions between parties and facilitate the formation of a successful coalition.

The current National Assembly comprises three major blocs, with the left-wing New Popular Front holding around 190 seats, Macron's centrist Renaissance party with 150 seats, and the far-right National Rally with 142 seats. The remaining seats are divided among smaller parties.

It is important to note that Macron is not obligated to choose a prime minister from any particular group in Parliament. Despite the left-wing coalition being the largest bloc in the Assembly, Macron has not indicated whether he will appoint someone from the left. The New Popular Front claims the right to propose a prime minister, but internal disagreements have hindered progress, particularly between the Socialist Party and the far-left France Unbowed.

While discussions about the new prime minister require further deliberation, all eyes remain on the outcome of the National Assembly's election for president, which will play a crucial role in influencing Macron's choice.

As France awaits the formation of a new government, political divisions, disagreements, and competing ideologies pose challenges that need to be addressed for effective governance and coherent policies.

Meanwhile, the caretaker government, led by Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, will continue until a new prime minister is appointed. The selection is expected to take place after the upcoming Paris Olympics, which begin in one week.

In an era of political uncertainty, the outcome of Thursday's election in the National Assembly holds significant importance for the future of France's governance and the direction the country will take.