PARIS—France’s outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu was on Tuesday due to start a last-ditch effort to rally cross-party support for a cabinet lineup to pull his country out of political deadlock.
President Emmanuel Macron tasked Lecornu, 39, with forming a government in early September after parliament toppled his predecessor over an unpopular austerity budget.
Lecornu unveiled a new cabinet on Sunday evening but it immediately drew criticism for containing many of the same faces from the previous government, and Lecornu resigned on Monday morning.
But in a twist, Lecornu had by Monday evening accepted Macron’s request that he spend two days trying to salvage his administration. AFP
Macron tasked Lecornu with “conducting final negotiations by Wednesday evening to define a platform of action and stability for the country,” a presidential official said, asking not to be named.
The president was ready to “assume his responsibilities” in case of failure, the official said, appearing to allude to him calling new legislative elections.
Lecornu was from 9:00 am (3 pm Tuesday, Manila time) to meet party leaders at the prime minister’s office in an attempt to breach the impasse.
A political crisis has rocked France for over a year, after Macron called snap polls in mid-2024 which ended in a hung parliament.
The chaos comes ahead of 2027 presidential elections expected to be a historic crossroads in French politics, with the French far right under Marine Le Pen sensing its best chance yet of taking power.
Edouard Philippe, a former premier and center-right contender in the next presidential elections, on Tuesday slammed what he called a “distressing political game.” AFP
