French Prime Minister Sebastian Le Corneille today left open the possibility that a political agreement could be reached within the day that could prevent the resort to new parliamentary elections.

Speaking from the prime minister’s palace, shortly before he began his successive meetings with representatives of three left-wing parties, the Socialists, the Ecologists, and the Communists, the outgoing French prime minister said that “there is a will” among the political forces to agree on the draft state budget for 2026 before the end of the year.

President Emmanuel Macron has given Le Corneille until this evening to determine whether the conditions for forming a viable government in the country are met.