Macron seeks new PM to end France crisis

AFP | Paris

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French President Emmanuel Macron was yesterday racing to find a new prime minister within a two-day deadline after the resignation of outgoing premier Sebastien Lecornu tipped the country deeper into political crisis.

The presidency said late Wednesday that Macron would name a new prime minister within the next 48 hours, indicat-ing the appointment would come by Friday evening at the latest.

A declaration seemed unlikely yesterday, with foreign ministers in Paris for talks on plans to help Palestinians after the Gaza war, then Macron due to attend a ceremony in the evening honouring a late justice minister who ended capi-tal punishment.

An announcement of a new prime minister looked more likely on Friday, and could even include a cabinet lineup, a source close to the president said.

Lecornu told French television in an interview on Wednesday evening that he expected a new premier to be named -- rather than early legislative elections or Macron’s resignation -- in order to resolve the crisis.

Unless Lecornu is reappointed, the new premier will be the eighth of Macron’s presidency.

‘Roll up its sleeves’

Lecornu resigned early Monday after less than a month in office but Macron gave him up to Wednesday evening to find a way out of months of deadlock over an austerity budget.

Lecornu’s two immediate predecessors were ousted by the legislative chamber in a standoff over the spending plan.

The president “will name a prime minister within 48 hours”, the presidency said, adding a “path was possible” to agree a budget by the end of the year.

The escalation of the crisis has turned into the worst political headache for Macron since he came to office in 2017, with close allies deserting a head of state who now appears increasingly isolated.

Former premier Edouard Philippe said that Macron himself should step down and call snap presidential polls.

But Lecornu insisted the president should serve out his mandate until 2027, saying it was “not the time to change the president”.