Macron Set to Appoint New Prime Minister as France Faces Deep Political Crisis

France is once again at a crossroads as President Emmanuel Macron prepares to name a new prime minister within the next 48 hours, following the shock resignation of Sébastien Lecornu the country’s fifth premier in just two years.

The announcement, made by the Élysée Palace on Wednesday, comes amid France’s worst political crisis in decades. 

Lawmakers have largely rejected the idea of holding a snap parliamentary election, preferring stability as the nation grapples with mounting economic and political challenges.

Lecornu, who had barely announced his cabinet before stepping down on Monday, now holds the record for the shortest-lived administration in modern French history.

 His resignation came just hours after opposition lawmakers and even some from Macron’s camp threatened to vote his government out of office.

Despite his resignation, Lecornu continued to hold talks with political leaders from across the spectrum from the centre-left to the centre-right at Macron’s request. His consultations were aimed at finding common ground to avoid a full-blown political collapse.

“The majority of deputies oppose dissolving parliament,” the Élysée said in a statement. “A platform for stability exists, and there’s a path forward to adopt the national budget by December 31.”

The presidential office added that Macron would appoint a new prime minister within 48 hours based on Lecornu’s findings.

France’s political scene has grown increasingly unstable since no party holds an outright majority in parliament. This gridlock has made passing key policies  including crucial financial reforms nearly impossible.

Lecornu ended two days of negotiations without a firm agreement but expressed cautious optimism that a way forward still exists. Speaking on France 2 TV, he admitted that striking a deal to pass the 2026 budget would be tough but said a snap election now seemed less likely.

“I told the President that the situation allows him to appoint a prime minister soon,” Lecornu said, signaling the end of his short-lived tenure.

Mounting Pressure on Macron

Meanwhile, President Macron is facing intense pressure from both the far-right and far-left to dissolve parliament or even step down. Some mainstream politicians have also joined the chorus, accusing him of losing control of the political process.

So far, the Élysée has not revealed who the next prime minister might be, but political analysts say Macron is under immense pressure to pick someone capable of bridging the widening gap between France’s divided factions.

As the clock ticks toward the 48-hour deadline, France and much of Europe watches closely to see who will take on the daunting task of restoring stability to one of the continent’s most powerful yet politically troubled nations.