Paris, France — French President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to stay in office and appoint a new prime minister in the coming days, aiming to prevent France from sliding deeper into political turmoil. His statement comes amid mounting pressure from opposition forces urging him to resign.
In a defiant national address, Macron sought to quell the escalating crisis following the historic no-confidence vote that ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier’s government. Barnier, who became contemporary France’s shortest-serving premier, resigned after Wednesday’s parliamentary defeat over the budget, marking the first toppling of a French administration in over 60 years.
"I will appoint a prime minister in the coming days," Macron announced, emphasizing that the new leader will be tasked with forming a "government of general interest" with the priority of passing a budget. He criticized the far-right and hard-left factions for uniting in what he called an "anti-republican front" to bring down the government.
"Lawmakers have knowingly chosen to topple the budget and the government just days before the Christmas holidays," Macron stated, underscoring the urgency of stabilizing the nation’s political landscape.
The presidency confirmed that Barnier and his ministers will remain "in charge of daily business until the appointment of a new government." Meanwhile, speculation is rife about who will succeed Barnier, with Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu, centrist ally Francois Bayrou, and former Socialist premier Bernard Cazeneuve among the potential candidates.
The no-confidence vote, proposed by the hard-left and backed by the far-right led by Marine Le Pen, was supported by a majority of lawmakers. While new legislative elections cannot be called until a year after the previous ones in summer 2024, the political impasse has led some opponents to call for Macron’s resignation.
Despite polls indicating that a significant portion of the French populace favors his stepping down — with surveys showing up to 64 percent in favor — Macron remains resolute. "The mandate that you gave me democratically in the 2022 elections is a five-year mandate, and I will exercise it fully, right up to the end," he affirmed. "The 30 months we have ahead of us must be 30 months of useful action for the country."
Hard-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon responded by labeling Macron as the "cause of the problem" in France, predicting that he would leave office "due to the force of events" before his term concludes.
As Macron faces the challenge of appointing his third prime minister this year — and the sixth since he took office in 2017 — the nation watches closely. The unfolding events not only impact France’s domestic affairs but also hold significance for observers worldwide, including global readers, business professionals, academics, and members of the French diaspora seeking insight into the country’s political future.
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France's Macron vows to stay on, promises PM in 'coming days'
cgtn.com
