Macron to Appoint New Prime Minister Within 48 Hours Amid Deep Political Crisis

French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister within the next 48 hours, his office announced on Wednesday, as the country grapples with the deepest political crisis of his presidency. The decision follows two days of intense talks by outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu with party leaders to find a path out of the parliamentary deadlock.

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Failed Cabinet and Political Deadlock

Lecornu, who resigned after just 14 hours in office, attempted to form a cabinet following the rejection of his predecessor Francois Bayrou’s austerity budget. Despite promising a break from Bayrou’s approach, Lecornu’s lineup faced fierce criticism from both the left and right, as it included many figures from the previous administration.

The Elysee Palace confirmed that a majority of lawmakers oppose dissolving parliament for early elections, and a “platform for stability” exists that could allow a budget to pass by the end of the year.

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Escalating Crisis

Since Macron announced snap elections last year in response to far-right gains, the French parliament has remained sharply divided, resulting in a hung parliament unable to pass critical budget measures to tackle France’s mounting debt. Proposed austerity measures have triggered nationwide protests, while opposition parties continue to demand early elections and threaten to block any new cabinet appointments.

Speaking to French TV, Lecornu said:

“I tried everything. This evening, my mission is finished.”
He suggested a technocratic, less politically ambitious cabinet could follow, emphasizing that the president should remain unchanged until the scheduled 2027 elections.

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Next Steps

Macron now faces the challenge of appointing a prime minister capable of navigating a deeply fractured parliament while attempting to restore confidence in governance. Observers note that the president’s political isolation has intensified, with former allies like Edouard Philippe calling for early presidential elections as a potential resolution.