The French President Emmanuel Macron's statement that he rules out a completely left-led government sparked outrage among leading left-wing groups on Monday.
Macron said in connection with the protracted government negotiations that a left-wing government would pose a threat to "institutional stability".
Left-wing groups received the most seats in the French parliament, but not enough to achieve a majority of their own.
The election result denied the extreme right-wing party National Rally the opportunity to form a government after the two rounds of parliamentary elections at the end of June and beginning of July.
Since then, President Macron has drawn out the negotiations on government formation – with an explicit pause during the Olympic Games in Paris.
According to Macron, new rounds of talks will begin on Tuesday.
"My responsibility is to ensure that the country is not paralyzed or weakened. All political leaders must seize the opportunity and show a sense of responsibility", Macron said in a statement.
Several left-wing groups responded by calling on supporters to take to the streets in protest.
