The Political Landscape in France
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to appoint a new prime minister within the next 48 hours, following an announcement by the Elysée Palace. This development comes after outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu shared similar information during an interview on Wednesday night. Lecornu emphasized that his role in negotiating with other political parties had come to an end.
During his conversation with French broadcaster France 2, Lecornu confirmed that he had met with the president earlier in the day to discuss the results of his recent consultations. Although he ruled out the possibility of returning to the position of prime minister, he suggested that there could be a “path” forward for forming a government that is “completely disconnected from presidential ambitions for 2027.”
Avoiding Snap Elections
Lecornu also dismissed growing speculation about the possibility of new parliamentary elections. He stated that there is an absolute majority in the National Assembly that opposes the dissolution of the current government. According to him, “210 MPs want a platform of stability.” This majority, he argued, could serve as a foundation for Macron to name a new prime minister.
However, Lecornu did not provide any further details about the potential candidates. While some of Macron’s former allies, including his ex-prime minister Édouard Philippe, have urged him to step down after passing the 2026 budget, Lecornu firmly rejected this idea. He emphasized that now was not the time to change the president, citing global instability and France’s diplomatic role as reasons to maintain stability at the top.
Budget Bill and Political Crisis
Lecornu confirmed that a new budget bill will be submitted on Monday. He admitted that it would not be perfect and acknowledged that there would be many areas for debate. “The political crisis must be resolved, a government appointed, and a real debate opened in parliament,” he urged.
Pension Reform and Its Impact
Revisiting the topic of pension reform, which has been a source of significant controversy and mass protests in recent years, Lecornu described it as a “source of blockage” in parliament. He stressed the need to find a way to reopen the debate on the issue. However, he warned that suspending the reform would be costly, estimating that giving up on it would cost no less than three billion euros by 2027.
Throughout his short tenure as prime minister, Lecornu described himself as a “monk-soldier,” committed to discipline and duty rather than personal ambition. 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.
