French President Emmanuel Macron seeks to elect a new prime minister "within 48 hours".
This was stated by the party leaders who met with him on December 10, after Michel Barnier's government was ousted last week, AFP reports.
Macron gathered the leaders of the main political parties at the Elysee Palace to spell out the conditions for forming a new government to avoid losing a vote of no confidence in France's parliament.
But he did not invite to the talks the far-right National Rally party and hard-left France Unbowed, which hold the key to France's hung parliament.
The president's initiative came at a time when caretaker ministers are trying to clarify France's financial position in 2025 after the previous administration failed over its budget cuts.
Barnier was backed by conservative Republicans and Macron's centrist camp.
But the alliance fell far short of a majority in the National Assembly and was toppled by the United Left, including France Unbowed, and Marine Le Pen's National Rally.
It was not clear how a broader base of support could be built for any new government.
Most leaders are unwilling to compromise on issues such as last year's unpopular pension reform or damage their image by collaborating with an unpopular president.
"We would prefer the debate not to continue under (Macron's) auspices for one simple reason, because he is not fit to be a judge today," Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure told reporters on arrival.
"Instead, further discussions should take place in the National Assembly," added Greens leader Marine Tondelier.
Even some in Macron's camp were sceptical.
"He's messed up, it's not up to him to form a majority, it's up to his prime minister," said one of the president's longtime supporters on condition of anonymity. | BGNES
