Paris, France – October 7, 2025: France’s former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe has called on President Emmanuel Macron to appoint a new head of government capable of passing the national budget before dissolving parliament and calling early presidential elections. The appeal comes as the country’s political landscape descends into mounting uncertainty following the resignation of Sébastien Lecornu, the third prime minister to step down in less than a year.
Philippe, who served under Macron from 2017 to 2020 and now leads the centrist Horizons Party, made the comments during a televised interview on Monday evening. His remarks underscore a deepening rift within France’s centrist establishment, as even Macron’s former allies begin to question his leadership amid the growing political paralysis gripping the Fifth Republic.
“I am not in favour of his immediate and abrupt resignation,” Philippe said, referring to the president. “But the head of state must live up to his mandate and take decisive action. That means appointing a capable premier who can secure a functioning government, pass the budget, and then return power to the people through an election.”
Lecornu’s Short-Lived Tenure and a Leadership Vacuum
The turmoil intensified after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu tendered his resignation on Monday, just weeks after being appointed to the role. His efforts to form a new coalition government collapsed amid divisions within Macron’s centrist bloc and fierce opposition from both left- and right-wing parties.
In response, President Macron asked Lecornu to draft a “last-ditch stability plan” by Wednesday, aimed at averting a complete governmental breakdown. However, political observers say the president’s hold on power appears to be weakening even among loyalists who once rallied behind his reformist agenda.
A source close to the Élysée Palace told Africa Live News that Macron remains determined to avoid what he calls “a hasty or emotional response,” though the same source admitted that “there is growing acknowledgment within the presidency that France is in a serious constitutional moment.”
Former Allies Turn Critics
Adding to the pressure, Gabriel Attal, Macron’s former protégé and the leader of the Renaissance Party, publicly questioned the president’s recent decisions. Attal, who briefly served as prime minister in 2024 before stepping down amid declining approval ratings, spoke candidly on national television, saying, “I no longer understand the decisions made by the President of the Republic. I think we should try something else.”
Attal’s statement is the latest in a string of defections and dissenting voices emerging from Macron’s centrist ranks. His call for the president to share power with other political groups signals a significant shift in tone from within the ruling establishment.
“France cannot remain trapped in a cycle of resignations and deadlock,” Attal said. “If we want stability, we must build it together — even if that means a broader coalition or early elections.”
Until recently, calls for Macron’s resignation came mainly from opposition figures on the far left and hard right, including Jean-Luc Mélenchon of France Unbowed and Marine Le Pen of the National Rally. However, the chorus has now expanded to include voices from the political centre — a development that analysts describe as a critical turning point for Macron’s presidency.
A President Under Pressure
President Emmanuel Macron, who has been in power since 2017, now faces the most serious challenge of his political career. Having already weathered the Yellow Vest protests, pension reform strikes, and a pandemic, the current wave of political instability strikes at the heart of his leadership.
On Monday evening, Macron was seen walking alone along the River Seine in Paris, followed at a distance by his security detail. The unusual public appearance quickly circulated on social media, symbolising for many the isolation of a president grappling with diminishing political capital.
His office later released a brief statement saying he would “take responsibility” should Lecornu’s government formation efforts ultimately fail. The statement, however, stopped short of specifying whether Macron was considering resignation, dissolution of parliament, or a broader realignment of his administration.
The Road to Crisis
France’s latest political crisis began earlier this year after Macron’s centrist alliance lost its parliamentary majority in a snap election. That vote, called in the aftermath of a poor showing in the 2024 European Parliament elections, backfired spectacularly, leaving his Renaissance bloc fragmented and dependent on fragile alliances to pass key legislation.
Since then, repeated attempts to stabilise the government have faltered. The resignations of successive prime ministers — Élisabeth Borne, Gabriel Attal, and now Sébastien Lecornu — have underscored the difficulties of governing without a clear majority in the National Assembly.
Efforts to push through a new national budget have become the latest flashpoint, with opposition lawmakers vowing to block what they describe as an “austerity-driven plan” that fails to address France’s widening economic inequalities. Economists warn that prolonged political paralysis could weaken investor confidence and hamper the country’s recovery amid sluggish growth and rising inflation.
A Call for Renewal
Édouard Philippe’s intervention is seen by analysts as both a warning and an opening move in a potential leadership realignment within France’s centrist camp. Having maintained a cordial but cautious distance from Macron since leaving office in 2020, Philippe is now positioning himself as a pragmatic voice for stability and renewal.
Political commentator Claire Dufresne told Africa Live News that Philippe’s remarks carry significant weight. “He’s not calling for Macron to resign immediately — that’s important,” she said. “What he’s doing is offering a constitutional way out of the impasse: appoint a caretaker government, pass a budget, then go back to the people. It’s a message that resonates with many in the political centre who are exhausted by endless crisis.”
Meanwhile, protests have erupted in several French cities, with demonstrators demanding new elections and an end to what they call “executive arrogance.” In Paris and Marseille, thousands gathered late Monday carrying banners reading “Dissolution Now” and “Return Power to the People.”
What Comes Next
As France stands at a political crossroads, attention now turns to President Macron’s next move. If Lecornu’s stability plan fails, the president could face growing pressure to appoint an interim prime minister capable of steering the country toward fresh elections.
Whether Macron will heed Édouard Philippe’s call remains uncertain. But what is clear is that France’s Fifth Republic — built to withstand crisis — is once again being tested by the very tensions it was designed to contain.
For now, the French people wait, weary of political turmoil but hopeful for a resolution that restores stability and trust in their nation’s leadership.
— Africa Live News
