Crunch day in French crisis as outgoing PM Lecornu tries to avert new elections

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who left the post, said that the political parties exhibited a “willingness” that can eliminate the threat of new parliamentary elections, hours before the deadline for the solution of the political crisis in France.

On Monday, Lecornu became the third French Prime Minister who resigned from his post in less than a year. He had a period of time to prepare a plan for the “stability of the country” and held negotiations with many political parties.

Like his predecessors, Lecornu failed to implement a budget that would close the government’s deficit and close the public debt.

Before the second day of the talks, Lecornu said “the desire to create a budget for France before December 31”.

“And this willingness clearly creates movement and rapprochement, which increases the likelihood of dissolving [of parliament] Far is far, “he said in the courtyard of his house in Hôtel Matignon in Paris.

The Prime Minister, who left his duty, then began negotiations with the socialist leaders. He will give detailed information about whether he has found a solution to French television at 20:00 local time (GMT 18:00).

His best hope seems to be a kind of political agreement that will prevent a new government from being dropped in the vote of trust.

Comments and officials said that Lecornu’s appearing on TV is not possible for President Emmanuel Macron himself to make a speech.

Lecornu’s shock resignation on Monday, 18 months before the end of Macron’s second term, dragged France to a renewed political turmoil. Macron’s decision to call for early elections in the mid -2024 confronted France with a suspended parliament and a number of minority governments.

Lecornu was only 26 days before the disintegration of the government’s criticism of Conservative Republican leader Bruno Retailleau.

Macron then gave the prime minister to find a way out of the crisis for 48 hours.

Following his meeting with Lecornu on Wednesday, the socialist leader Olivier Faure seemed to exclude the possibility of the Central Left Party to join the next government.

“The budget plan is a budget plan and a common government with Macron, which we cannot be part of as it is presented today.” [allies] This can not even be a dream, “he said to journalists.

This does not mean that socialists will try to overthrow a new government; The national rally and the radical left of the far -right marine will probably try it. Le Pen, who went ahead in the party surveys, called Macron to terminate the parliament and organize new parliamentary elections “seriously thinking”.

On one night, there were suggestions that Lecornu could get the central left support if the government had suspended its retirement age from 62 to 64. However, the Minister of Finance Roland Lescure, who left the post, warned France to cost France for billions of euros in 2026, when the country tried to reduce the budget deficit this year.

France’s public debt earlier this year was almost 114 %of economic production (GDP), and this year’s budget deficit is expected to reach 5.4 %of GDP.

Without the participation of socialists in the next government, Lecornu’s greatest hope is to establish a revived central cabinet with republicans. social community – Or common platform.

Although the Republicans have made it clear that they will not participate in a left -led government so far, it is not certain that they will return to the government with the macronists.

Yaël Braun-Pivet, the President of the National Assembly, who met with Macron on Tuesday, said that they did not discuss the termination of parliament on the French radio and that he did not see it as a good idea: “This will not solve many things.”

Braun-Privet then warned that France would face “very serious consequences” if a budget agreement could not be reached in the coming days.

Lecornu said in a statement, France’s budget deficit is vital to reduce the national economic product (GDP) below 5 percent, and based on the interviews so far, there is willingness to have a budget until the end of the year, he said.

“Reduce ours [budget] Open is the key to the reliability of France’s signature abroad, including the impact of our ability to borrow briefly and thus on interest rates. This is valid for the state, but also for households and businesses, “he added.

However, in addition to insisting that the budget deficit should be reduced, he said that the new government should reach an agreement on the future of New Caledonia in the South Pacific region of France.

The 2026 budget planned would include financial aid, which is vital to the region after the heavy damage caused by last year’s uprisings.

The French government was insufficient to give full independence to the new Caledonia, but he offered more autonomy with an agreement to be approved in the vote. Lecornu’s resignation on Monday, stopped the referendum calendar after the state elections next year.