Crystal Dike
France’s government is facing unprecedented instability as former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe urged President Emmanuel Macron to appoint a new head of government and call early presidential elections. Philippe made the appeal on Tuesday during an interview with RTL radio, warning that the ongoing crisis is eroding the “authority and continuity of the state” and undermining public confidence in the government.
Philippe, who served as Macron’s first prime minister from 2017 to 2020 and now leads the centrist Horizons party, stressed that decisive leadership is required to restore stability. “The country needs clarity, stability, and a government capable of action,” he said.
His comments follow the resignation of Sébastien Lecornu on Monday — the third prime minister to leave office within a year. Lecornu, appointed weeks earlier, failed to form a stable coalition and was instructed by Macron to deliver a “last-ditch plan for stability” by Wednesday. Analysts note that support for Macron within his centrist alliance is rapidly declining.
Gabriel Attal, former leader of Macron’s Renaissance party and briefly prime minister in 2024, publicly criticized the president Monday night. “I no longer understand the decisions made by the president,” Attal said, urging the sharing of power with other parties to form a viable government.
Philippe rejected calls for Macron’s immediate resignation, arguing it would plunge France into chaos. However, he insisted the president must “serve the institutions” by facilitating early elections once the national budget is passed.
France’s government paralysis worsened after Macron’s centrist bloc lost its parliamentary majority in last year’s snap legislative election, which he called following a European Parliament defeat. Since then, passing a budget aimed at reducing the nation’s debt — projected at 5.4% of GDP in 2025 — has proved difficult.
Two prime ministers have already resigned this year. François Bayrou stepped down last month after losing a confidence vote over controversial budget cuts, while Lecornu resigned after just 26 days in office, citing coalition divisions.
Amid political chaos, tensions spilled into the streets of Paris. On Tuesday morning, a van caught fire on Rue de Varenne, where the prime minister’s residence is located — an incident many commentators saw as symbolically mirroring the government’s turmoil.
Public frustration continues to grow. A Le Figaro poll of 1,000 citizens showed that 53% believe Macron should resign, highlighting plummeting confidence in the government.
On Monday, Macron was seen walking alone by the River Seine, escorted by security, as speculation mounted over his next moves. Sources at the Élysée Palace indicated that he would “take responsibility” if Lecornu’s stabilization plan fails.
With Philippe’s challenge reigniting debate over France’s constitutional limits, the future of the government hangs in the balance. One certainty remains: the France government is on the brink of a political reckoning not seen in decades.