France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has begun a last-ditch effort to rescue his government, seeking cross-party support to end the country’s deepening political stalemate.
President Emmanuel Macron had appointed Lecornu, 39, in early September to form a new administration after parliament ousted his predecessor over a controversial austerity budget.
Lecornu unveiled his cabinet on Sunday, but it was swiftly met with criticism for retaining many members of the previous government, prompting his resignation on Monday morning. However, by that evening, he had agreed to Macron’s request to attempt a two-day salvage mission.
According to a presidential aide, Macron tasked Lecornu with “conducting final negotiations by Wednesday evening to define a platform of action and stability for the country.” The aide added that the president was prepared to “assume his responsibilities” if talks failed — a veiled reference to the possibility of dissolving parliament and calling fresh elections.
The crisis follows the 2024 snap parliamentary elections that left France with a hung assembly, paralyzing decision-making as the country grapples with record debt levels and mounting political tension ahead of the 2027 presidential polls.
Former prime minister Edouard Philippe criticized what he described as a “distressing political game,” urging Macron to call early presidential elections once the 2026 budget is approved. Within Macron’s centrist camp, party leader Gabriel Attal expressed frustration, saying it was “time to try something else.”
Opposition leader Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally (RN) said it would be “wise” for Macron to resign but also pressed for immediate legislative elections. RN leader Jordan Bardella declared his party “ready to govern.”
On the left, Socialist leader Olivier Faure called for “a change of course” with a government rooted in progressive policies, while conservative Bruno Retailleau of the Republicans signaled conditional openness to working with Macron’s centrists.
Lecornu’s challenge mirrors that of his two predecessors — François Bayrou and Michel Barnier — both toppled in parliamentary standoffs over budget cuts.
With France’s debt-to-GDP ratio now among the highest in the European Union, analysts warn that political instability could further undermine the government’s credibility at a critical economic moment.
Macron has ruled out resigning and continues to resist calls for snap polls, though a new prime minister — the eighth under his presidency — could still emerge if Lecornu’s efforts collapse.
