“Macron now finds himself isolated, without direction or support. He must draw the consequences: either resignation or dissolution,” far-right National Rally lawmaker Philippe Ballard posted on X.
Since last year’s failed gamble to call a snap legislative vote, which produced a hung parliament split between three ideologically opposed blocs, Macron has tried to muddle through with minority cabinets.
The resignation of prime minister Sebastien Lecornu has raised the chances that Macron fails to make it to the end of his term.Credit: AP
Determined to preserve his economic legacy of tax cuts and a pension overhaul at a time of growing investor concern about France’s yawning deficit, Macron has appointed premiers from an ad-hoc alliance of conservatives and centrists.
For more than a year, these governments struggled to pass deficit-reduction measures. Two prime ministers fell over their inability to fix public finances, but the so-called socle commun — or “common platform” — endured.
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That changed with the dramatic rebellion of Bruno Retailleau, the conservatives’ most high-profile figure, who late on Sunday publicly criticised Lecornu’s cabinet just hours after it was named.
Macron is hoping Lecornu can lure back the conservatives to the table, giving him a lifeline.
If not, he could appoint a left-leaning prime minister, but the Socialists’ insistence on a wealth tax and reversing the pension reform makes them a hard sell for other parties.
Despite Monday’s appeal to Lecornu, the pressure on Macron is unlikely to let up.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN) quickly called for a dissolution of parliament and new elections. Polls show her party leads voting intentions.
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“The RN benefits from the centre’s collapse and picks up protest votes, seeing dissolution as a unique opportunity to finally govern,” said political analyst Stewart Chau.
Calls for Macron’s resignation, once confined to the fringes, are now entering the mainstream.
“France’s national interest demands that Emmanuel Macron set a date for his resignation, in order to preserve the institutions and unblock a situation that has been unavoidable since the absurd dissolution,” said David Lisnard, the mayor of Cannes and a rising conservative figure, on social media.
Macron has repeatedly said he intends to serve out his full term. But faced with few palatable options, he may yet choose to end his presidency with a dramatic gesture – just like de Gaulle, who stepped down in 1969.
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Reuters
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