French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister within 48 hours, the Elysee Palace has said, fending off speculation that fresh elections could be imminent.
Earlier on Wednesday, outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu stated that the possibility of dissolving parliament was beginning to fade after discussions with political parties.
There is a majority in parliament and that is the majority that keen to avoid fresh elections, he asserted.
Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, became the third French PM to resign in less than a year, influenced by a deeply divided parliament.
He was requested by Macron to remain for two more days to cultivate a consensus among parties to address the current political turmoil.
In a significant TV interview, Lecornu emphasized that while avoiding new elections was a priority, a budget needed to be passed by year-end amidst ongoing political fragmentation.
However, he acknowledged the complicated scenario for forming a government due to stark divisions among parties and ambitions for the next presidential election.
Lecornu indicated that the next prime minister must be free from presidential ambitions for the 2027 election, highlighting the need for stability.
France's political deadlock began following snap elections in July 2024, leading to challenges in passing laws and reforms. The looming national debt, currently at €3.4 trillion, adds to the urgency for cohesive governance.
Now the focus shifts to whether Lecornu can persuade the Socialists to support a new government. Calls for Macron’s resignation have surfaced, amid frustrations within his party and among former allies.
As the political landscape shifts, Macron remains under scrutiny as he waits to address the nation following Lecornu’s resignation.
