France's Macron to Appoint New Prime Minister Within 48 Hours Amid Political Crisis
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to name a new prime minister within the next 48 hours, according to his office, in an effort to break the country's political deadlock. The announcement comes after two days of last-ditch talks with party leaders by outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
Lecornu resigned on Monday, becoming the third French PM to leave his job in less than a year, driven out by a hung parliament. According to Al Jazeera, Lecornu's cabinet lineup, unveiled on Sunday, was rejected by allies and rivals alike. The Elysee presidential office stated that Lecornu's discussions with various party leaders had failed to yield a breakthrough.
In a statement, the Elysee Palace said that Macron would name a new prime minister within 48 hours, fending off speculation that fresh elections could be imminent. This move is seen as an attempt by Macron to stabilize his government and avoid further instability in the country's politics.
According to BBC World, earlier on Wednesday, Lecornu said that the possibility of dissolving parliament was beginning to fade following talks with political parties over the last two days. "There is a majority in parliament and that is the majority that is keen to avoid fresh elections," he stated.
The current crisis has been brewing for months, with Macron's government struggling to pass legislation due to opposition from various parties. The hung parliament has made it difficult for Macron to implement his policies, leading to widespread criticism of his leadership.
As France navigates this challenging period, experts are cautioning that the situation remains precarious. "The appointment of a new prime minister is just a Band-Aid solution," said Dr. Sophie Meunier, a politics expert at Sciences Po Paris. "Macron needs to address the underlying issues driving this crisis and work towards building a more stable government."
With Macron's announcement, the focus now shifts to who will be his next prime minister. The selection process is expected to be closely watched by both domestic and international observers.
In the coming days, France will be watching with bated breath as Macron names a new leader to steer the country out of its current impasse. Will this move be enough to stabilize the government and restore confidence in Macron's leadership? Only time will tell.
This story was compiled from reports by BBC World and Al Jazeera.
