French President Emmanuel Macron is under increasing pressure to call an early presidential election, according to Édouard Philippe, his former prime minister who served from 2017 to 2020. Philippe’s remarks come on the heels of the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who is the third individual to leave the post this year.
Following Lecornu’s resignation on Monday, Macron has given him a short 48-hour window to stabilize his faltering government. In an interview with French radio station RTL, Philippe expressed concern over the ongoing political instability in France, cautioning that Macron’s commitment to remain in power until the scheduled elections in 2027 “would be far too long and would harm France.”
“I’m not for an immediate and brutal resignation,” he argued, indicating that Macron should wait until the 2026 budget was passed before calling an election.
Adding to the chorus of discontent, another former prime minister, Gabriel Attal, who took office in 2024, expressed his bewilderment regarding Macron’s decisions during an interview with broadcaster TF1. While Attal refrained from explicitly demanding Macron’s resignation, he noted, “Like many French people, I no longer understand the president’s decisions.”
Growing discontent within Macron’s circle
The situation suggests a potential fracture within Macron’s political circle, with key allies opting to distance themselves from the president. This ongoing crisis originated from Macron’s controversial decision to dissolve the National Assembly in June 2024, an action that has led to historically low approval ratings for the president and created a hung parliament, complicating governance.
As Macron grapples with fragmented political alliances, the current parliament lacks a decisive majority, with parties more focused on positioning themselves for the upcoming 2027 presidential election than on achieving bipartisan compromise. The political landscape is further complicated by three primary suggestions from Macron’s opponents: a resignation, the call for new elections, or the appointment of a prime minister from outside Macron’s political faction.
The potential for a new political landscape
The latter option, known as “cohabitation,” is advocated by left-wing parties following the success of the New Popular Front coalition in the 2024 legislative elections. This coalition secured the most seats, effectively countering the rising influence of the far-right National Rally, yet still failed to attain an outright majority.
Philippe has indicated his intention to run in the next presidential election, and recent polls suggest that he might face a candidate from the far-right National Rally in the runoff. Should Macron choose to resign, the French Constitution stipulates that the Senate President, Gérard Larcher, would assume temporary leadership, with a new presidential election required to be organized within 20 to 50 days.