French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday ruled out resigning and accused his political rivals of destabilising the country, as his newly reappointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu faces two no-confidence motions that could topple his government before the end of the week.
France is grappling with one of its worst political crises in decades, with successive minority governments struggling to pass deficit-reduction budgets through a deeply divided parliament split between the far-left, the centre, and the far-right.
Macron, who has already gone through five prime ministers in less than two years, has repeatedly rejected opposition calls to resign or call snap legislative elections.
“I ensure continuity and stability, and I will continue to do so,” Macron said shortly after arriving in Egypt for a summit on ending the Gaza war. “The mandate given to the president is clear, to serve, to serve, and to serve.”
On Friday, Macron reappointed Sebastien Lecornu, who had resigned as prime minister earlier in the week amid mounting pressure from parliament. His new cabinet, unveiled Sunday night, retained many of the previous ministers despite Lecornu’s earlier promise to introduce “renewal and diversity.”
Both the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) and the far-right National Rally (RN) submitted no-confidence motions on Monday, setting the stage for a high-stakes parliamentary showdown likely to take place on Thursday.
Lecornu, already France’s shortest-serving prime minister after a 27-day first term, could again be forced out if he fails to secure enough votes. The centrist government’s survival may depend on support from the Socialist Party, which remains undecided.
“There will be no censure if the prime minister commits to abandoning Article 49.3 and suspending the pension reform,” Socialist lawmaker Philippe Brun told Reuters, referring to the constitutional mechanism that allows the government to push through bills without a parliamentary vote.
RN leader Jordan Bardella hinted that his party could back the motion tabled by the left. “I’m not sectarian,” he told TF1 television. “France’s interest today is to ensure that Emmanuel Macron is stopped in his tracks.”
Macron’s new cabinet convened for the first time on Monday afternoon and faces immediate fiscal pressure. France must present its latest budget by Wednesday amid soaring deficits, the largest in the eurozone.
Macron has tasked successive prime ministers with delivering leaner budgets, but each has struggled.
Michel Barnier’s government collapsed last December after parliament rejected his 2025 budget cuts, while François Bayrou, his successor, was ousted last month over his proposals for the 2026 spending plan.
“The political forces that decided to vote against François Bayrou and those seeking to destabilise Sébastien Lecornu are solely responsible for this mess,” Macron said, defending his embattled government.
As Lecornu braces for Thursday’s confidence vote, Macron’s leadership faces its toughest test yet, a political gridlock that threatens to paralyse France’s government just as it struggles to rein in deficits and restore public trust.
Source: Reuters
Written By Rodney Mbua
