Once again, the French are left in political agonypublished at 21:10 BST
21:10 BST
Hugh Schofield
Paris Correspondent
Image source, EPAImage caption,
Sébastien Lecornu (L) pictured next to French President Emmanuel Macron (R)
Sébastien Lecornu is known as a man of few words. It means that interlocutors can sometimes be left guessing what he is driving at.
The French public will certainly have felt that impression tonight.
The one positive that can be stated is there will be no immediate announcement of an early election.
That was thought to be on the cards if Lecornu decided there was not sufficient common ground for forming a new government.
But, apparently, Lecornu thinks there is enough common ground.
What that ground is; who will make what compromise; who might be the prime minister; and who might be in the new government – that he was not in a position to say. After all, as he said more than once, he has resigned.
What would he know? He was just doing a last job for the president, and it was up to Macron to make all the announcements.
So, the French are left in agony once again.
You want clarity? Here’s some mud.