Macron to name new prime minister within 48 hours

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint a new prime minister within the next 48 hours, the Elysee Palace confirmed, quelling speculation that the country could face fresh elections.

Outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, speaking on October 8, indicated that the prospect of dissolving parliament is now receding following two days of consultations with political parties.

"There is a majority in parliament and that is the majority that is keen to avoid fresh elections," Lecornu said.

Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, became the third French prime minister to resign in less than a year when he stepped down on October 6. His departure was driven by a hung parliament divided along ideological lines, leaving no party with a clear majority. Following his resignation, Macron asked Lecornu to remain temporarily to try to build a consensus among parties to navigate the current political crisis.

In a widely anticipated TV interview on Wednesday evening, Lecornu did not indicate who might be his successor. While he described his mission as "finished," he did not completely rule out the possibility of remaining in the role.

Lecornu stressed that most MPs are not only opposed to fresh elections but also recognise the urgent need to pass a budget by the end of the year. Yet, he acknowledged that forming a stable government remains challenging due to deep parliamentary divisions and politicians positioning themselves for the 2027 presidential election.

"Whoever ends up in government will need to be completely disconnected from any presidential ambition for 2027," Lecornu said, reflecting on the difficulties ahead.

The political deadlock began after snap elections in July 2024, leaving France without a majority government. This has made it difficult to pass essential legislation, including the annual budget. One of the most pressing challenges for Lecornu and his predecessors has been managing France’s national debt, which currently stands at €3.4 trillion (£2.9 trillion), almost 114% of GDP—the third highest in the eurozone after Greece and Italy. Previous prime ministers Michel Barnier and François Bayrou were ousted in confidence votes after presenting austerity budgets.

Lecornu announced that his draft budget would be presented next week, but emphasised that it would remain "open for debate." He added, "But the debate needs to begin... parties cannot say they'll vote it down without examining it."

The prime minister also said that Macron's highly contested pension reforms, which have sparked political tension since 2023, would need to be revisited. "We have to find a way for the debate to take place," Lecornu said, although some factions in parliament appear unwilling to compromise.

Mathilde Panot, leader of the radical left France Unbowed (LFI), declared after Lecornu’s interview that "the only solution was the resignation and departure of Emmanuel Macron." Meanwhile, National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, long a proponent of fresh elections, stated she would vote against any new government. At this stage, it remains unclear which political forces would support a new cabinet.

The centrist-Republican coalition that has governed since last year appears fractured. A key question is whether Lecornu was able during the past 48 hours to persuade the Socialists, part of the left bloc in the last elections, to back a government in some form.

Addressing calls for Macron’s resignation—including from former prime minister Edouard Philippe—Lecornu stressed the need for stability: "This is not the time to change the president."

However, Macron is showing signs of increasing isolation, with even close allies distancing themselves. Gabriel Attal, widely regarded as a Macron protégé, admitted earlier this week that he "no longer understood" the president and called for the appointment of an independent negotiator to guide the government.

Macron has yet to make a public statement following Lecornu’s unexpected resignation. Lecornu assured that the president would "address the French people in due course," without specifying a timeline.

By Tamilla Hasanova