Macron to Appoint New Prime Minister Amid Political Turmoil

Sat Oct 11 2025 01:38:01 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to nominate a new prime minister within 48 hours following the resignation of Sébastien Lecornu, as the government navigates the complexities of a hung parliament.

In a significant political development, French President Emmanuel Macron is expected to announce a new prime minister within 48 hours after the resignation of Sébastien Lecornu. Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, has been tasked with engaging political parties to mitigate the risk of fresh elections. Despite efforts to form a consensus, the political landscape remains challenging due to deep divisions within parliament and urgent fiscal issues. This leadership change comes as France grapples with a national debt crisis, making the forthcoming budget discussions critical.

French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister within 48 hours, the Elysee Palace has stated, as speculation surrounding fresh elections subsides.

In a recent statement, outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu noted that discussions with various political factions have indicated a growing consensus against dissolving parliament. There is a majority in parliament and that is the majority that is keen to avoid fresh elections, he said.

Lecornu, who is Macron's close ally, became the third prime minister to resign within a year, amid a fractured parliament following a hung election result.

He was requested by Macron to remain in office for two days to facilitate discussions aimed at resolving the current political discord.

During a much-anticipated television interview on Wednesday, Lecornu refrained from naming his potential successor but acknowledged that his mission to stabilize the government had concluded without ruling out his own future role.

He emphasized the necessity of passing a budget before the year's end, while acknowledging the challenges imposed by the ideological divisions within parliament and the political ambitions of some lawmakers ahead of the next presidential elections.

The broader context reveals that France has faced political stagnation since July, when snap elections failed to yield a clear majority. This political impasse has complicated key decisions, particularly concerning the national debt, which currently stands at approximately €3.4 trillion, or 114% of GDP.

Lecornu's resignation shifts the responsibility to the next prime minister, who will need to navigate these complexities while being distanced from presidential ambitions leading up to the 2027 elections.

In his closing remarks, Lecornu highlighted the urgency of addressing the contentious pension reforms initiated under Macron's leadership as lawmakers remain resistant to compromise. Meanwhile, calls for Macron's resignation grow louder, indicating a highly charged political atmosphere as the country prepares for the next phase of governance.