Lecornu submitted his resignation on Monday, less than a month after taking office. President Emmanuel Macron asked him to stay on until there is a successor and to make one last attempt to resolve the political crisis over the budget.
Resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu leads to unrest in the French financial market: sky-high interest rates result in additional costs of billions
The Elysée, Macron’s office, thanked Lecornu for his work in recent days and confirmed that the aim is to appoint a new prime minister within 48 hours.
No majority for new elections
Major opposition parties called for new elections, but Lecornu states that there is no majority for this in parliament. He reported on his conversations with Macron on Wednesday evening and then did an interview on national television. In it he said that there are enough parties that are willing to reach an agreement on the budget. “I feel that a way out is possible.”
New French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has already left, advises parliament: ‘National interest above party interest’
The biggest stumbling block, according to Lecornu, the fifth French Prime Minister in two years, is the reform of the pension system. Many parties want to reverse the increase in the retirement age. Lecornu states that this would cost the country 3 billion euros in 2027 alone.
It is still unknown who will be the new Prime Minister. That choice is up to Macron, according to Lecornu. He said he was not a candidate for reappointment.