French President Emmanuel Macron is gearing up to name a new prime minister within the next 48 hours as the country wrestles with a political crisis unprecedented in decades. The move follows Sebastien Lecornu’s dramatic resignation on Monday, making him France’s fifth prime minister in just two years—and the shortest-serving in modern history—just hours after unveiling his cabinet.
Lecornu spent two days consulting leaders from the centre-left to centre-right, trying to chart a way out of the deadlock. According to the Elysee Palace, “A majority of deputies oppose dissolving parliament; stability is possible; a path exists to adopt a budget by December 31.” On that basis, Macron is set to appoint a new premier within two days.
The resignation came after both opposition and some allies threatened to vote Lecornu out, exposing the deep instability in a parliament where no party holds a majority. While no concrete deal emerged, Lecornu expressed cautious optimism that a new government head could soon be in place. “I see a path forward,” he told France 2 TV, noting that passing the 2026 budget and restoring financial stability won’t be easy—but the risk of snap elections appears to be easing.
Macron continues to face pressure from all sides. Far-right figures like Marine Le Pen demand immediate elections, while hard-left leader Jean-Luc Melenchon insists Macron should resign. Even some mainstream politicians are weighing in, adding to the tense political atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the centre-left is positioning itself to lead the next government, pushing for policies like a 2% wealth tax on the top 0.01% and scrapping unpopular pension reforms—popular with the public but opposed by conservatives.
Markets have responded nervously to the uncertainty, with investors jittery over France’s budget deficit. Still, the CAC 40 index rose 1.1% Wednesday, reflecting cautious optimism after Lecornu’s comments.
As Macron prepares to appoint a new prime minister, France watches closely, hoping for a route out of political gridlock while facing critical financial and social challenges.
