French President Emmanuel Macron yesterday was racing to find a new prime minister within a two-day deadline after the resignation of outgoing French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu tipped the country deeper into political crisis.
The presidency late on Wednesday said that Macron would name a new prime minister within 48 hours, indicating that the appointment would come by this evening at the latest.
Lecornu told French television in an interview that he expected a new prime minister to be named — rather than early legislative elections or Macron’s resignation — to resolve the crisis.
Photo: AFP
The developments were the latest twists in three tumultuous days of political drama that have shaken France and raised concerns over the stability of the key member of the EU.
Lecornu resigned early on Monday after less than a month in office, but Macron gave him up to Wednesday evening to find a way out of months of deadlock over an austerity budget.
Lecornu’s two immediate predecessors were ousted by the legislative chamber in a standoff over the spending plan.
The president “will name a prime minister within 48 hours,” the presidency said in a statement, adding that a “path was possible” to agree a budget by the end of the year.
There was no indication of the identity of the new prime minister. Unless Lecornu is reappointed, the new prime minister would be the eighth of Macron’s presidency.
The escalation of the crisis has turned into the worst political headache for Macron since he came to office in 2017, with close allies deserting a head of state who appears increasingly isolated.
Lecornu said he had told Macron that the prospects for snap legislative elections had “receded” as there was a majority in the lower house of parliament against being dissolved.
After former French prime minister Edouard Philippe said that Macron himself should step down and call snap presidential polls, Lecornu insisted that the president serve out his mandate until 2027.
It was “not the time to change the president”, Lecornu said, adding: “Let’s not make the French believe that it’s the president who votes the budget.”
Suggesting that a more technocratic government could be named, Lecornu said that people in a new Cabinet should not have “ambitions” to stand in the 2027 presidential elections.
“The situation is already difficult enough. We need a team that decides to roll up its sleeves and solve the country’s problems until the presidential election,” he said.
He added a “path” should be found to open a debate on reversing the increase of the pension age — the most contentious domestic reform of Macron’s mandate — but warned that any suspension would cost at least 3 billion euros (US$3.5 billion) in 2027.
French Minister of National Education, Higher Education and Research Elisabeth Borne, who was prime minister at the time the reform was forced through parliament without a vote, had called for it to be suspended.
Lecornu offered no clue over who the next prime minister would be, but hinted that he would not be reappointed without totally excluding such an outcome.
“I tried everything. This evening my mission is finished,” said Lecornu who served more than three years as defense minister, describing himself as a “warrior monk.”
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