French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister within 48 hours, the Elysee Palace has announced, as speculation about imminent fresh elections swirls. This development follows the resignation of outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who on Monday became the third PM in under a year to step down due to a deeply divided hung parliament.
Earlier in the week, Lecornu hinted during discussions with political parties that the notion of dissolving parliament was becoming increasingly unlikely. He stated, There is a majority in parliament that is keen to avoid fresh elections. However, this majority faces significant challenges given the ideological divides among parties.
Lecornu, who was a close ally of Macron, indicated that crucial discussions were underway to navigate the ongoing political crisis. He was asked by Macron to remain for a brief period to form necessary consensus among parties before the new appointment.
In his recent TV interview, Lecornu did not directly endorse a successor, although he expressed a commitment to avoid fresh elections and recognized the urgent need to pass a budget by the year's end. He mentioned that any incoming prime minister would need to distance themselves from ambitions concerning the upcoming presidential election.
Since the snap elections in July 2024, France has witnessed a persistent political stalemate, complicating efforts to enact significant reforms, including measures to address the country’s soaring national debt, currently at €3.4 trillion, or 114% of GDP.
Previous prime ministers, Michel Barnier and François Bayrou, faced confidence votes leading to their dismissals over austerity measures. As Lecornu prepares to present a new draft budget next week, he emphasized the need for a collaborative debate among parties to move forward.
However, some factions remain staunchly opposed, with criticism directed towards Macron’s leadership. Radical left representative Mathilde Panot recently stated that true resolution lies with Macron's resignation. Simultaneously, far-right leader Marine Le Pen has repeatedly called for new elections and pledged to vote down any new government led by Macron.
As uncertainty continues regarding the support for a new government, the next 48 hours are critical for Macron as he navigates through his administration’s mounting challenges.
