In a dramatic turn of events, President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sbastien Lecornu as prime minister, merely days after Lecornu's abrupt resignation and declaration that his mission was "over" after less than a month in office.
This move comes as Macron's latest attempt to maintain a grip on power in Paris and avert the dissolution of the National Assembly, which would trigger parliamentary elections.
According to Breitbart, Macron engaged in a series of frantic discussions at the lyse Palace on Friday with various party leaders, excluding Jean-Luc Mlenchons far-left La France Insoumise (France in Rebellion/LFI) and Marine Le Pens populist Rassemblement National (National Rally/RN).
Rumors suggest that Macron has struck a deal with the left-wing Socialist Party, promising not to censure a second Lecornu government in return for a compromise on the contentious pension reforms of 2023. These reforms, which saw the retirement age raised from 62 to 64 without a vote in the National Assembly, ignited months of riots after a previous Macron government exploited a constitutional loophole.
However, Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure, following his meeting with Macron, stated that the president "provided no clear answers." He warned that if the pension reforms are not fully suspended, his party will "immediately" censor the government, as reported by Le Parisien.
Such a pact with the left on pensions could potentially alienate Macrons neo-liberal base, many of whom view the pension reform as a significant achievement and are apprehensive about adding further billions to Frances escalating debt. The Horizon party, part of Macrons Ensemble coalition, has reportedly stated that it will not "compromise on pension reform."
Simultaneously, Bruno Retailleau, former Interior Minister and leader of the centre-right Les Rpublicains, who toppled the first Lecornu government due to objections over the number of Macron loyalists in the proposed cabinet, has also declared his refusal to support another Macronist prime minister or any rollback of the pension reforms.
Macron seems to be gambling on the Rpublicains deviating from Retailleaus stance, and that the establishment party is less likely to vote to censure the government than the Socialist Party. Therefore, succumbing to leftist demands may be the only viable route to keep the government functioning and pass a budget.
The coming days will be crucial, with a deadline looming for the government to present a proposed budget. If either the Socialists or Rpublicains decide to join the censure movement, the government would likely collapse.
Despite his earlier assertion that his mission was "over", Prime Minister Lecornu stated on Friday evening: "I accept out of duty the mission entrusted to me by the President of the Republic to do everything possible to provide France with a budget by the end of the year and to address the daily life issues of our fellow citizens."
Lecornu assured that all issues raised during the past week of talks "will be open to parliamentary debate", but emphasized that "restoring our public finances remains a priority for our future and our sovereignty: no one will be able to evade this necessity," given Frances looming debt crisis and the impending financial penalties should Paris fail to get its books in order.
Whether Lecornu, the self-proclaimed "soldier monk", will successfully navigate the budget battle that toppled the governments of his two predecessors in the Htel Matignon over the past year, remains uncertain.
The ongoing political turmoil in Paris is likely to benefit presidential frontrunner Marine Le Pen and her populist National Rally party, who continue to demand that President Macron dissolve the parliament and call for fresh legislative elections to break the deadlock in the deeply divided National Assembly.
Le Pen noted, "The manoeuvres continue, censorship is therefore necessary, and dissolution is more indispensable than ever," while cautioning: "All the political parties that participated in giving Emmanuel Macron the time necessary to implement this shameful manipulation will be held accountable at the next elections."
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