Former French PM Calls for Macron’s Resignation
Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has pressed the French President to initiate an early presidential election, citing the country’s worsening political crisis.
Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has urged President Emmanuel Macron of France to resign, citing the nation’s intensifying political turmoil.
Sebastien Lecornu tendered his resignation on Monday, becoming the fifth French prime minister to do so under President Macron’s leadership within a mere two-year period, just hours after presenting a new cabinet.
Since assuming office in 2017, President Macron has experienced the resignations of seven prime ministers, including Edouard Philippe (July 2020), Jean Castex (April 2022), Elisabeth Borne (January 2024), Gabriel Attal (July 2024), Michel Barnier (December 2024), and Francois Bayrou (September 2025). Lecornu’s departure this week marks the most recent instance, occurring amidst parliamentary division regarding the government’s attempts to enact a budget intended to mitigate the country’s escalating debt.
Philippe informed French radio station RTL on Tuesday that Macron ought to step down once the budget is approved and declare an early presidential election.
“I am not advocating for an immediate and abrupt resignation… however, [the president] needs to initiate a decisive step,” Philippe stated.
Philippe characterized some of Macron’s appointments for prime minister as “peculiar” and deemed his choice to dissolve the National Assembly in June 2024 as “catastrophic.” This action, precipitated by his coalition’s poor performance in the European Parliament elections, was largely perceived as a miscalculated risk that resulted in a hung parliament and significantly impeded the nation’s legislative processes.
Philippe held the position of prime minister for the longest duration since Macron’s inauguration at the Elysee Palace in 2017. Throughout his time in office, he supervised substantial labor and tax overhauls and handled the contentious fuel tax increase that ignited the Yellow Vests protests in late 2018. He stepped down in 2020 amid Macron’s pre-election cabinet reorganization, subsequently establishing his own center-right political party and formally announcing his bid for the 2027 presidential election.
Should Macron resign, France would be constitutionally obligated to conduct a presidential election within a timeframe of 20 to 35 days.
A recent Elabe survey indicated that more than 86% of those surveyed perceive the present circumstances as “a regrettable display” orchestrated by “a political class that is failing in its duties,” while 51% are of the opinion that the president’s exit could help to “resolve” the political deadlock.