France awaits new PM to end political crisis

Macron's choice is more likely to be divulged Friday, after he was busy Thursday afternoon making remarks at talks in Paris to help Palestinians after the Gaza war, and later in the evening speaking at a ceremony honouring a late justice minister who ended capital punishment.

Macron could reappoint Lecornu, or name the eighth premier of his presidency, in a bid to resolve months of deadlock over next year's austerity budget.

The president's office said on Wednesday evening that he would "name a prime minister within 48 hours", and that a "path was possible" to agree a budget by the end of the year.

Lecornu told French television that he expected a new premier to be named, rather than early legislative elections or Macron's resignation.

- 'Roll up its sleeves' -

Lecornu's two immediate predecessors were ousted by the legislative chamber in a standoff over the spending plan.

The escalation of the crisis has turned into the worst political headache for Macron since he came to office in 2017, with close allies deserting a head of state who now appears increasingly isolated.

Former premier Edouard Philippe said that Macron himself should step down and call snap presidential polls.

But Lecornu insisted the president should serve out his mandate until 2027, saying it was "not the time to change the president".

Suggesting that a more technocratic government could be named, Lecornu said people in a new cabinet should not have "ambitions" to stand in the 2027 presidential elections.

"We need a team that decides to roll up its sleeves and solve the country's problems until the presidential election," he said.

Rumours swirled on Thursday on who could be prime minister.

A person close to the president, asking not to be named, said Jean-Louis Borloo, a former minister under right-wing presidents Jacques Chirac and Nicolas Sarkozy, could be a potential candidate.

But the 74-year-old centrist said he had heard nothing of it and had "zero" contact with the president's office.

Lecornu said on French television, he was "not running after" the job but conspicuously did not rule out being reappointed in what would be a new twist after several days of drama. 

Whoever is named the new premier will likely face the same problems encountered by Lecornu and his two immediate predecessors, Michel Barnier and Francois Bayrou, who were both toppled by parliament.

- 'Listen to the country' -

After losing their majority in 2022 elections and ceding even more seats in snap polls last year, Macron's centrists have governed in a de facto coalition with the right-wing Republicans.

But even this combination is a minority in parliament, and any premier risks being voted out again if the left teams up with the far-right.

Left-wing political leaders on Thursday urged Macron to include their Socialist, Greens and Communist parties in government to help "build majorities in parliament".

"Listen to the country," said Socialist leader Olivier Faure, Communist chief Fabien Roussel and Greens boss Marine Tondelier in a joint statement.

This "failure of successive governments is nothing more than the refusal to change policy" according to the aspirations of voters, they said. 

A coalition of left-wing parties -- including the hard left -- won the most seats in the polls last year, but fell short of an absolute majority. 

Marine Le Pen, whose far-right party declined to take part in talks with Lecornu this week, said Wednesday she would thwart all action by any new government and would "vote against everything".

Le Pen's anti-immigration party senses its best ever chance of winning power in the 2027 presidential elections, with Macron barred from running having served two terms.

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