France Averts Immediate Dissolution, macron Expected to Name New Prime Minister
PARIS – France appears to have stepped back from the brink of parliamentary dissolution, with President Emmanuel Macron expected to appoint a new prime minister within the next 48 hours. This follows intensive negotiations led by outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who reported to Macron that the prospect of dissolving Parliament is “receding.”
Lecornu revealed in a France 2 interview following a meeting at the Élysée Palace that he informed Macron of a shift in sentiment, with a majority now opposing dissolution. “I told the President of the Republic that the prospect of dissolution is receding and that I consider that the situation allows him to appoint a prime minister in the next 48 hours,” Lecornu stated.
The outgoing prime minister emphasized the need for political compromise following last year’s elections, stating, “The French voted ‘a year ago’, which ‘requires the political class to change its way of working.'” He detailed efforts over the past 48 hours to secure agreements with various political factions, including those willing to compromise on a common budget and opposition groups seeking stability but with conditions.
A significant hurdle in forming a new government remains the contentious pension reform – specifically, raising the legal retirement age to 64.Lecornu stressed the importance of allowing a debate on social reform, while also highlighting the financial implications of suspending the reform. “suspending the reform…would cost the Treasury 3 billion euros in 2027,” he explained.
Lecornu, having concluded his mission to broker a stable government, declared, “My mission is finished.” The coming days will be crucial as Macron selects a new prime minister tasked with navigating france’s complex political landscape and addressing ongoing economic and social challenges.
