Philippe Urges Early Presidential Vote After 2026 Budget

Edouard Philippe, Macron’s first prime minister and now a leading centre-right contender, urged President Emmanuel Macron to organise early presidential elections after the 2026 budget is adopted, saying France can no longer endure the current political deadlock. His intervention followed the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who quit 27 days after his appointment after his new cabinet was widely rejected. Macron has asked Lecornu to try to salvage a stable administration in the short term but said he is prepared to “assume his responsibilities,” a remark widely interpreted as meaning he could call snap parliamentary elections if Lecornu’s talks fail. Philippe said he was not demanding Macron’s immediate resignation, but signs of dissent have emerged inside Macron’s camp, with Gabriel Attal publicly saying he no longer understands the president’s decisions. The far-right’s Jordan Bardella has also backed dissolving parliament and holding new elections, underscoring cross-spectrum pressure amid a broader crisis that stems from the loss of Macron’s parliamentary majority after last year’s snap polls.