Emmanuel Macron should name a prime minister to push through a budget and then call early presidential elections to solve France's political crisis, his first prime minister has said. Édouard Philippe's comments come after France's third prime minister in a year, Sébastien Lecornu, resigned on Monday after his bid to form a government fell apart. Macron has asked him to make a last-ditch plan for stability by the end of Wednesday - but support for the French president appears to be waning even among his allies. Philippe, who served as prime minister from 2017-20 and now leads the centrist Horizons party, expressed that while he is not in favor of Macron's immediate resignation, it is essential for the president to fulfill his mandate.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Attal, who leads Macron's Renaissance party and previously served as prime minister, publicly voiced his confusion over the president's recent decisions, suggesting a need for shared power with other parties. This marks a shift in pressure previously largely directed at Macron from political opponents on the radical left and hard right.
In a significant visual representation of the political crisis, Macron was seen walking alone along the River Seine, followed by his bodyguards, capturing the current turmoil surrounding his presidency. His inner circle indicated that he would take responsibility if Lecornu's last-ditch talks fail, though what that entails remains unclear.
Macron, in office since 2017, saw his centrist bloc lose its parliamentary majority after a snap election, complicating efforts to stabilize the government and pass an essential budget amidst increasing public discontent and projected budget deficits.
Philippe emphasized the need for a new prime minister to manage the budget and suggested that any abrupt resignation from Macron would adversely impact the conduct of future presidential elections. He reiterated the necessity for Macron to use his position to stabilize the state and find solutions to the ongoing crisis. Recent polls have indicated that a majority of the French population believes Macron should resign, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with his governance, particularly as incidents, such as a van spontaneously bursting into flames near the prime minister's residence, echo the unrest in the political landscape.
Meanwhile, Gabriel Attal, who leads Macron's Renaissance party and previously served as prime minister, publicly voiced his confusion over the president's recent decisions, suggesting a need for shared power with other parties. This marks a shift in pressure previously largely directed at Macron from political opponents on the radical left and hard right.
In a significant visual representation of the political crisis, Macron was seen walking alone along the River Seine, followed by his bodyguards, capturing the current turmoil surrounding his presidency. His inner circle indicated that he would take responsibility if Lecornu's last-ditch talks fail, though what that entails remains unclear.
Macron, in office since 2017, saw his centrist bloc lose its parliamentary majority after a snap election, complicating efforts to stabilize the government and pass an essential budget amidst increasing public discontent and projected budget deficits.
Philippe emphasized the need for a new prime minister to manage the budget and suggested that any abrupt resignation from Macron would adversely impact the conduct of future presidential elections. He reiterated the necessity for Macron to use his position to stabilize the state and find solutions to the ongoing crisis. Recent polls have indicated that a majority of the French population believes Macron should resign, reflecting growing dissatisfaction with his governance, particularly as incidents, such as a van spontaneously bursting into flames near the prime minister's residence, echo the unrest in the political landscape.
