"No single political force obtained a sufficient majority and the blocs or coalitions that emerged from these elections were all in the minority," Macron said, in a letter published in the regional press.

Marine Le Pen's far right National Rally (RN) won the first round of voting on June 30, but centrist and left-wing parties agreed scores of local pacts to defeat her on the second round.

Runoff results left a loose left-wing alliance -- the New Popular Front (NFP) -- with the most MPs, but no ideological grouping has the outright majority needed to form a government.

Macron said the new government would need to be built by "republican forces" supportive of the rule of law, France's role in the European project, national independence and parliamentary rule.

This formulation appeared designed to exclude Le Pen's RN, but also implicitly far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Melenchon's France Unbowed (LFI), a big portion of the NFP's left-wing alliance.

"It is in light of these principles that I will decide on the appointment of the prime minister," Macron said, in a letter published just over two weeks before Paris hosts the Olympics.

"This means giving the political forces a little time to work out these compromises calmly and with respect for each other," he wrote.

"In the meantime, the current government will continue to exercise its responsibilities and will then take care of day-to-day business in accordance with republican tradition.

"Let us place our hope in the ability of our political leaders to demonstrate a sense of harmony and calm, in your interest and in that of the country," Macron told voters.