France’s former prime minister Édouard Philippe has urged President Emmanuel Macron to appoint a new prime minister to pass the national budget and then call early presidential elections to resolve the country’s deepening political crisis.
Philippe’s comments follow the resignation of Sébastien Lecornu, France’s third prime minister in a year, whose attempt to form a stable government collapsed on Monday.
Macron has now asked Lecornu to present a final proposal for restoring stability by the end of Wednesday. However, signs of fading support are emerging even within the president’s inner circle.
Philippe, who served as Macron’s first prime minister from 2017 to 2020 and now leads the centrist Horizons Party, said he was not advocating an abrupt resignation but insisted it was time for Macron to take decisive responsibility.
“I am not in favour of his immediate and abrupt resignation,” Philippe told RTL Radio, “but the president must rise to the expectations of his office and find a solution to this political crisis.”
He argued that Macron could end the impasse by naming a prime minister capable of passing a functional budget, ensuring government continuity, and then leaving office “in an orderly and dignified manner.”
“When you are head of state, you do not use the institutions—you serve them,” Philippe said. “He should serve the institutions by finding a way out of this political crisis.”
Macron’s latest political turmoil comes as several of his allies publicly express frustration with his leadership. Gabriel Attal, who led Macron’s Renaissance Party and served as prime minister for six months in 2024, went on national television on Monday night, saying he “no longer understands the decisions made by the president of the republic.”
Attal said Macron had already attempted to regain control three times in the past year, suggesting it was now time for the president to share power with other political forces.
“I think we should try something else,” he said.
Until recently, most calls for Macron’s resignation had come from opponents on the far-left and far-right. But criticism from figures within his own centrist camp marks a significant escalation in the crisis gripping the French presidency.
Macron, who has been in power since 2017, was seen walking alone by the River Seine in Paris on Monday, trailed only by his security team, as the latest wave of political uncertainty surrounded him.
His aides later said he would “take responsibility” if Lecornu’s final talks failed—though they did not clarify whether that meant resigning or calling early elections.
The turmoil stems largely from Macron’s decision last year to call snap parliamentary elections after his party’s poor showing in the European Parliament polls. His centrist bloc subsequently lost its parliamentary majority, leaving him struggling to pass legislation, including the crucial 2025 budget aimed at curbing France’s soaring public debt.
The country’s budget deficit is projected to reach 5.4% of GDP this year, putting pressure on government spending.
Last month, François Bayrou, another Macron ally, resigned after losing a confidence vote in parliament when his proposed budget cuts met fierce resistance. Lecornu, who replaced him, lasted only 26 days in office before stepping down, blaming “partisan appetites” among coalition partners.
Following Lecornu’s resignation, he began new talks with centrist political leaders on Tuesday to find a path forward. Philippe confirmed that he would take part in the discussions, while Bruno Retailleau of the right-wing Republicans party said he would only meet Lecornu privately.
“It’s clear that we are now in the middle of a political crisis that both dismays and worries our fellow citizens,” Philippe said. “This political crisis is dragging the state into decline—the authority and continuity of the state are no longer being respected.”
Macron’s popularity has sharply declined in recent months. A new Le Figaro poll of 1,000 French citizens found that 53% believe he should resign before his term ends.
Adding to the tension, a van caught fire on Tuesday morning on the same street as the prime minister’s residence on Rue de Varenne in Paris—an incident commentators described as a vivid metaphor for the country’s escalating political unrest.
