Macron to Name New Prime Minister Amidst Political Turmoil and Budget Deadline

France faces a critical political moment as President Emmanuel Macron is set to announce a new Prime Minister by Friday evening, October 10, 2025, following the resignation of Sébastien Lecornu earlier this week. This announcement aims to resolve a government instability heightened by pending deadlines, especially the urgent 2026 budget project that must be submitted by Monday to keep legislative processes on track.

Macron convened leaders of political parties and parliamentary group heads at the Élysée Palace, excluding the Rassemblement National and La France Insoumise, to negotiate a non-censorship agreement for the future government, amid a tense parliamentary environment without a clear majority. Two frontrunners for the premiership are Sébastien Lecornu and Jean-Louis Borloo, though Lecornu has stated he is not pursuing the position, feeling his mission is complete, while Borloo denies knowledge of being a candidate.

The political deadlock has sparked increased calls for cohabitation from opposition figures on the left. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of La France Insoumise, condemned recent negotiations as "folkloric," criticized Macron’s leadership as that of a "lost soldier," and demanded early presidential elections, asserting his deputies were not elected to cooperate with Macron’s party. Gabriel Attal, former Prime Minister, suggested appointing a Prime Minister from a different party to facilitate dialogue with opposition factions.

Concerns over the 2026 budget's presentation on Monday dominate the crisis backdrop. Pierre Moscovici, President of the Court of Auditors, emphasized the necessity of a credible budget plan to avert further economic challenges, while outgoing Economy Minister Roland Lescure reassured that the budget would meet European fiscal commitments.

Agnès Pannier-Runacher called for a leader capable of negotiating across party lines and marking a break from past administrations, highlighting the urgency of political stability. Gabriel Attal underscored the importance of compromise to move forward.

As the suspense draws to an end, the entire nation awaits Macron's decision, which will determine the government's direction amid parliamentary deadlock and pressing economic deadlines.