Nearly three months after President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to call a snap election plunged France into a political crisis, the French leader is grappling with the difficult task of appointing a new prime minister.
This comes after the election resulted in a hung parliament, leaving Macron to navigate a complex political landscape where his pro-business legislative legacy hangs in the balance.
The parliamentary election created three nearly equal-sized political blocs—the left, the far right, and Macron’s centrist grouping—making it challenging for Macron to find a prime minister who can gain enough support across these factions. The president has been engaged in extensive consultations with political leaders from across the spectrum, but so far, no candidate has emerged who can secure broad parliamentary backing without risking immediate no-confidence votes.
Macron is under pressure to protect his economic policies, particularly his contentious pension reform, which has been met with strong opposition from the left. At the same time, conservative factions demand that he avoids tax increases, further complicating his search for a suitable prime minister. Socialist lawmaker Arthur Delaporte emphasized that Macron is taking his time to ensure that the next prime minister does not compromise his economic achievements, noting that tax hikes and pension reform are “red lines” for the president.
The political tension increased after Edouard Philippe, Macron’s former prime minister, announced his candidacy for the 2027 presidential election. This move is seen by some as a challenge to Macron’s leadership and has further weakened the president’s bargaining position. Philippe’s announcement has raised doubts about whether Macron can complete his second and final term, with some political figures suggesting that the Macron era may be nearing its end.
Macron has reportedly narrowed down his choices for prime minister to Bernard Cazeneuve, a former Socialist Prime Minister, and Xavier Bertrand, a conservative former labor minister. However, it remains unclear whether either candidate could secure sufficient parliamentary support to form a stable government.
As Macron’s search continues, France’s public finances are deteriorating, with the outgoing Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire warning of the need for significant budget cuts. Meanwhile, left-wing lawmakers are pushing for tax hikes, a proposal that is unlikely to gain traction with Macron, who has overseen substantial tax cuts since taking office in 2017.
Reuters contributed to this report.
