After a politically turbulent week, the name of France’s new prime minister was announced on Friday evening — and it was none other than the recently resigned Sébastien Lecornu!
Earlier, Emmanuel Macron — facing a political deadlock — had invited the leaders of political parties and parliamentary groups to a meeting at the Élysée Palace. However, the LFI (France Unbowed) and the RN (National Rally) were not invited, as sources from the presidential entourage said they were “seeking the dissolution of the National Assembly.”
“Lies,” responded Mathilde Panot, head of the France Unbowed parliamentary group, claiming that their goal was the removal of the president, not the dissolution. “We need presidential elections,” added LFI founder Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen criticized Macron, saying during a visit to a fire station in Le Mans that “he cannot pretend the RN doesn’t exist.”
Those who attended the meeting did not hide their discontent. Green Party leaders Marine Tondelier and Cyrielle Chatelain said they were “shocked” and outraged, realizing that the Left had no place in the new government. From the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure and Boris Vallaud expressed disappointment at the lack of clear answers to fundamental issues, warning that they would offer “no guarantee against a motion of no confidence.”
“The change we were waiting for has not come, and we cannot accept it,” said Communist Party leader Fabien Roussel.
According to Le Figaro, the party of former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe has threatened to withdraw from the upcoming government, even if it remains under a Macronist prime minister. Philippe himself was reportedly “displeased” with the president’s proposal to delay implementing the increase in the retirement age — the only concession Macron is said to have mentioned during the meeting.
The Left, however, considers this measure insufficient and continues to demand at least a suspension of the pension reform.
In any case, the political drama is far from over, as the new prime minister will now face the task of forming a government. Time is pressing: the 2026 budget must be submitted by Monday, October 13 at the latest, so that it can be approved before the end of the year…
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