French President Emmanuel Macron is urgently working to meet a self-imposed 48-hour deadline to appoint a new prime minister following a historic no-confidence vote that ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government. On Tuesday, Macron gathered political leaders from various factions to form a “government of national interest,” though the far-right National Rally (RN) and the hard-left France Unbowed (LFI), who played a key role in Barnier’s removal, were excluded from the talks.
Macron is under pressure to assemble a broad alliance capable of surviving a no-confidence vote and passing the upcoming budget to stabilize the country politically and economically. Macron is set to name a new prime minister by Wednesday evening or the following day, ahead of his trip to Poland.
Some close to Macron have suggested that François Bayrou, a centrist ally and former justice minister, could be a potential candidate for the role, though opposition from the Socialist Party, led by Olivier Faure, challenges this choice. Bayrou, 73, is seen by some as a symbol of continuity, but Faure and others advocate for a left-leaning prime minister.
Other contenders include former foreign minister Jean-Yves Le Drian, who has reportedly turned down an initial offer, and current Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu. Macron’s efforts also include a possible “non-aggression pact” among parties, ensuring no one brings down the new government.
Meanwhile, the French government has introduced a special budget law to keep the state functioning into the new year. The National Assembly is set to debate the bill next week, with most parties expected to support it for the sake of stability.
Macron’s efforts to unify various political factions follow a turbulent period, marked by the June parliamentary elections and the fall of Barnier’s government after a standoff over austerity measures. Despite tensions, some progress was made during the recent political talks.
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