Macron too Name New Prime Minister After Snap Election Results
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron will appoint a new prime minister within the next 48 hours following a dramatic election outcome that has thrown France into political uncertainty. The move comes after Prime Minister Gabriel Attal resigned on Wednesday, triggered by MacronS decision to call for snap parliamentary elections following a crushing defeat for his Renaissance party in the European Parliament elections.
The unexpected elections, scheduled for July 7th and 14th, have upended Macron’s second term and created a complex political landscape. His party faces a strong challenge from the far-right National Rally, now poised to potentially become the largest force in the National Assembly. This outcome jeopardizes Macron’s domestic agenda and raises questions about France’s economic direction, particularly its deficit reduction plans. The government had initially aimed to reduce the deficit to 4.7 percent of gross domestic product this year, a figure later signaled by Macron as potentially softening to 5 percent, with initial estimates from Minister of the Armed forces Sébastien Lecornu at 5.4 percent.
Macron now faces a critical decision: either dissolve the National Assembly and risk a government unable to pass legislation, or appoint a prime minister capable of forging a working majority in parliament. if he chooses not to dissolve the Assembly, the new prime minister will inherit the daunting task of navigating a fractured legislature, mirroring the challenges that led to the downfall of Attal’s two predecessors.
One potential path forward involves appointing a politician from the center-left Socialist Party, requiring them to build a coalition with other left-wing lawmakers and centrists. However, such a move could come at a significant cost for Macron, potentially jeopardizing key policies like the recent law raising the minimum retirement age. The coming days will be pivotal in determining the future of Macron’s presidency and the direction of France.
