New Prime Minister to Be Appointed Within 48 Hours
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint a new prime minister within 48 hours of Wednesday evening, according to an official announcement from the Elysée Palace. This development comes after outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed during an interview that his mission of negotiating with other political parties had concluded.
Lecornu, who spoke to French broadcaster France 2, mentioned that he had met with the president earlier in the day to discuss the results of his latest consultations. Although he ruled out any possibility of returning to the role of prime minister, he emphasized that “a path is possible” for forming a government that is “completely disconnected from presidential ambitions for 2027.”
Avoiding Snap Elections
The former prime minister also dismissed growing speculation about holding new parliamentary elections. He stated that there is an absolute majority in the National Assembly that opposes the dissolution of the current parliament. Lecornu claimed that “210 MPs want a platform of stability,” which could provide Macron with a foundation to name a new prime minister.
Despite this, he did not offer further details about the potential candidates. Some of Macron’s former allies, including his ex-prime minister Édouard Philippe, have urged him to step down after passing the 2026 budget. However, Lecornu firmly rejected this idea, arguing that it is not the right time to change the president.
He cited global instability and France’s diplomatic role as key reasons for maintaining stability at the top. Lecornu also confirmed that a new budget bill will be submitted on Monday, acknowledging that it “won’t be perfect” and will require extensive debate.
Addressing Political Crisis
Lecornu called for resolving the political crisis by appointing a new government and opening a real debate in parliament. He emphasized the importance of addressing the ongoing challenges facing the country.
Pension Reform Controversy
On the issue of pension reform, which has been a source of significant controversy and mass protests over the past few years, Lecornu described it as a “source of blockage” in parliament. He stressed the need to find a way to reopen the debate on this matter.
However, he warned that suspending the reform would come at a high cost. Lecornu estimated that giving up on the pension reform would cost no less than three billion euros by 2027.
A Commitment to Duty
Throughout his brief tenure, Lecornu described himself as “a monk-soldier” focused on discipline and duty rather than personal ambition. He explained that he accepted Macron’s mission to conduct talks with other parties following his resignation “to demonstrate that I wasn’t chasing the job of prime minister.”
When asked if he considered his mission a success, Lecornu paused before admitting, “Not completely. I tried everything.” His resignation on Monday marked the end of the shortest premiership in modern French history, lasting only 27 days.
