Macron wanders alone by the Seine as his grip on power slips away
“Macron now finds himself isolated, without guidance or support. He must draw consequences: resignation or dissolution,” he said.
Macron has sought to meddle with minority machinations since last year’s gambit, calling a legislative vote that produced a hung parliament split between three ideologically opposing blocs.
The resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu increases Macron’s chances of failing by the end of his term.Credit: A.P.
Determined to preserve the economic legacy of tax cuts and a pension overhaul at a time when investors are worried about France’s yawing deficit, Macron appointed the premier from an alliance of conservatives and centrists.
For more than a year, these governments have struggled to deliver deficit reduction measures. Two prime ministers fell because they failed to fix public finances, but the so-called socle commune – Or “Common Platform” – Permanent.
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That changed late Sunday with the dramatic revolt of the conservatives’ most high-profile figure, Bruno Retailleau, who publicly criticized Lecornu’s cabinet just hours after it was named.
Macron hopes LeCornu will bring conservatives back to the table and give him a lifeline.
If not, he could appoint a left-leaning prime minister, but the socialists’ insistence on a wealth tax and reversing pension reform makes them a tough sell for other parties.
Despite Monday’s appeal to LeCornu, the pressure on Macron is unlikely to be let up.
Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right national rally (RN), quickly called for the dissolution of Parliament and new elections. Polls show his party leads in voting intention.
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“The RN is taking advantage of the collapse of the center and taking the protest votes as a unique opportunity to ultimately govern the dissolution,” said political analyst Stewart Chau.
Calls for Macron’s resignation, once confined to the fringes, are now entering the mainstream.
“France’s national interest demands that Emmanuel Macron set a date for his resignation in order to preserve the institutions and prevent an inevitable situation since the absurd dissolution,” the mayor of Cannes and rising conservative figure said on social media.
Macron has repeatedly said he plans to serve his full term. But faced with few palatable options, he may choose to end his presidency with a dramatic gesture – just like De Gaulle, who resigned in 1969.
Reuters
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