French President Emmanuel Macron began a round of thorny consultations with political leaders on Friday, hoping to cobble together a viable ruling coalition after last month's inconclusive election.

A full six weeks after a snap election resulted in a hung parliament in which Macron's camp lost its status as the largest grouping, he has still not named a new prime minister.

The next premier's first major task will be to submit next year's budget plan to the National Assembly.

The left-wing New Popular Front (NFP) -- which emerged from the election as the largest bloc but well short of a majority -- has said it wants the 37-year-old economist Lucie Castets to be the new head of government.

But Macron's forces have shown little interest in the idea, preferring a potential alliance with the traditional right.

"We have come here to remind the president how important it is to respect the election result and to pull the country out of paralysis," Castets said as she arrived at the Elysee Palace on Friday,........

© International Business Times