Zürcher Nachrichten - French politicians dispirited as Macron set to name new PM

French politics has been deadlocked ever since Macron gambled last year on snap polls that he hoped would consolidate power -- but ended instead in a hung parliament and more seats for the far right.

Both allies and the opposition had been hoping for a fresh face in government to help end months of paralysis over an austerity budget, but signs seemed to point to Macron reappointing the same premier who resigned at the start of the week.

Macron's office said he would pick a name by Friday evening after his seventh prime minister Sebastien Lecornu, 39, threw in the towel on Monday.

The centrist president, facing the worst domestic crisis since the 2017 start of his presidency, has yet to address the public.

Leaving the meeting at the Elysee, left-wing leaders said the premier would not be from their ranks.

Olivier Faure, leader of the Socialists, a swing group in parliament, said his party would vote against any new government that did not agree to suspending an unpopular 2023 pensions reform that raised the retirement age from 62 to 64.

"The way things are going, there is no guarantee we won't vote against" the next government, Faure said.

The French parliament toppled Lecornu's two predecessors in a standoff over cost-cutting measures.

Lecornu, a Macron loyalist, agreed to stay on for two extra days after he quit to talk to all political parties.

He told French television late Wednesday that he was optimistic that a new cabinet could get a spending bill through parliament.

But Lecornu, who served three years as defence minister, offered no clue as to who the next premier would be.

He claimed his mission was finished, but several politicians believe the president would likely rename him, at the risk of further exasperating the opposition and even members of his own camp.

Fellow centrist Gabriel Attal, who was France's youngest prime minister until last year, urged Macron on Friday to "share power" and not to name someone close to him.

- No 'ambitions' -

Lecornu has said a revised draft budget for 2026 could be put forward on Monday, which would meet the deadline for its approval by the end of the year.

But it was not immediately clear if this would require a fresh cabinet line-up to be announced by the weekend or not.

Lecornu's suggested list of ministers last Sunday sparked criticism that it did not break enough with the past.

Lecornu on Wednesday suggested that a more technocratic government could be named, whose members should have no "ambitions" to stand in the 2027 presidential elections.

The escalating crisis has seen former allies criticise the president.

In an unprecedented move, former premier Edouard Philippe, a contender in the next presidential polls, earlier this week said Macron himself should step down after a budget was passed.

But Macron has always insisted he would stay until the end of his term.

Marine Le Pen's far-right party declined to take part in talks with Lecornu this week and was then not invited to the Elysee on Friday.

She said earlier this week she would thwart all action by any new government.

Le Pen's anti-immigration RN senses its best-ever chance of winning power in the 2027 presidential vote, with Macron having served the maximum two terms.

Le Pen has been barred from running after being convicted in a corruption case, but her 30-year-old lieutenant, Jordan Bardella, could be a candidate instead.

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F.Carpenteri--NZN