French President Emmanuel Macron has refused to resign despite rising pressure and political turmoil in the country. He criticized opposition parties for creating instability as his new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, faces two no-confidence motions this week that could bring down the government.
France is battling its deepest political crisis in years, sparked by budget disputes and divided parliamentary factions. Macron’s centrist coalition no longer holds a majority, making it harder to pass key legislation. The president has already replaced five prime ministers in less than two years, but opponents say this has failed to fix the political deadlock. Many are now demanding fresh elections or Macron’s resignation, both of which he has rejected.
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Speaking from Egypt during a Gaza ceasefire summit, Macron doubled down on his leadership. He said he intends to serve until 2027 and will not step down early. Macron called for political stability and accused his critics of putting France’s future at risk. “The president’s job is to serve, and I will continue to do so,” he said, emphasizing his commitment to governance.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lecornu has only been in office for 27 days and now faces a tough test. After resigning earlier this month, he was reappointed and formed a new cabinet with minimal changes. The far-left “France Unbowed” party and far-right National Rally submitted no-confidence motions. If passed, Lecornu could be forced out again. The Socialist Party has yet to decide its vote and may support the government if certain policy demands are met.
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The Socialists want Macron to cancel pension reforms and tax the ultra-rich. They also want the government to avoid using Article 49.3, which allows passing laws without a parliamentary vote. Lecornu has not ruled out resigning again if he fails to secure support. The cabinet met for the first time on Monday and must present a new budget by Wednesday. France remains the eurozone’s highest-deficit country.