France Faces Government Crisis as Macron Prepares to Nominate New Prime Minister

French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister within 48 hours, the Elysee Palace has confirmed, as speculation about impending fresh elections mounts.

Earlier on Wednesday, outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu remarked that the option of dissolving parliament appeared to be diminishing following discussions with various political parties over the past two days. There is a majority in parliament and that is a majority that wishes to avoid fresh elections, Lecornu stated.

Lecornu, who is a close ally of Macron, recently became the third French PM to resign in less than a year, a decision spurred by a parliamentary landscape that remains deeply divided along ideological lines.

The Elysee announced that Lecornu would remain in office for two additional days to forge a consensus among parties as the nation grapples with its current political crisis.

During a televised interview, Lecornu emphasized the urgency of passing the budget before the year's end, a sentiment echoed by many MPs. However, he acknowledged the fraught path towards forming a stable government, especially with politicians eyeing the presidential election slated for 2027.

France's ongoing political deadlock arose after snap elections in July 2024 resulted in no single party achieving a parliamentary majority, complicating legislative processes, including budget approvals.

The pivotal challenge confronting Lecornu and his predecessors has been managing France's staggering national debt, presently estimated at €3.4 trillion, nearing 114% of the country's GDP—one of the highest ratios in the eurozone.

Lecornu plans to present his draft budget next week, but insists that constructive discussions must occur among political factions before any agreement can be reached. Despite facing pressure to resign from various factions, he underscored the necessity of having a recognized and stable leader at France's helm, noting, This is not the time to change the president.
Meanwhile, political instability looms as Macron faces increasing isolation, garnering scrutiny from both allies and opposition with calls for a different approach to governance in light of current challenges.