France's Macron pressed to end political mess
10/7/2025 6:40:00 PM
France's President Emmanuel Macron faced growing pressure on Tuesday to resign or hold a snap parliamentary election to end political chaos that has forced the resignation of five prime ministers in less than two years.
The 47-year-old centrist president has repeatedly said he will see out his second term, which ends in 2027.
But resignation calls, long confined to the fringes, have entered the mainstream during one of the worst political crises since the 1958 creation of the Fifth Republic, France's current system of government.
On Tuesday, as Macron's outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu held last-ditch talks to form a new government, his first premier in 2017, Edouard Philippe, said it was time for a new president to break the deadlock.
Speaking to RTL radio, Philippe said Macron should be "leaving in an orderly manner" to allow a way out of the crisis.
IT'S A MESS
Political turmoil in the euro zone's second largest economy was front page news across Europe at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding the continent do more to shore up its own defences and aid Ukraine.
Markets have taken fright, with investors keeping a close eye on France's ability to cut a yawning budget deficit. French stocks fell 1.4% on Monday and the risk premium on French government bond yields rose to a nine-month high on the crisis.
"It's a mess. It makes you sad," said Brigitte Gries, a 70-year-old pensioner in Paris, summing up public consternation.
"We're becoming a bit of a laughing stock around the world right now," added taxi driver Soufiane Mansour in the southern city of Montpellier. "We're a bit of a clown around the world and in Europe, unfortunately."
The 47-year-old centrist president has repeatedly said he will see out his second term, which ends in 2027.
But resignation calls, long confined to the fringes, have entered the mainstream during one of the worst political crises since the 1958 creation of the Fifth Republic, France's current system of government.
On Tuesday, as Macron's outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu held last-ditch talks to form a new government, his first premier in 2017, Edouard Philippe, said it was time for a new president to break the deadlock.
Speaking to RTL radio, Philippe said Macron should be "leaving in an orderly manner" to allow a way out of the crisis.
IT'S A MESS
Political turmoil in the euro zone's second largest economy was front page news across Europe at a time when U.S. President Donald Trump is demanding the continent do more to shore up its own defences and aid Ukraine.
Markets have taken fright, with investors keeping a close eye on France's ability to cut a yawning budget deficit. French stocks fell 1.4% on Monday and the risk premium on French government bond yields rose to a nine-month high on the crisis.
"It's a mess. It makes you sad," said Brigitte Gries, a 70-year-old pensioner in Paris, summing up public consternation.
"We're becoming a bit of a laughing stock around the world right now," added taxi driver Soufiane Mansour in the southern city of Montpellier. "We're a bit of a clown around the world and in Europe, unfortunately."