French President Emmanuel Macron has accused rival political parties of fuelling instability, as he dismissed calls for his resignation amid the country's worst political crisis in decades. Speaking on a visit to Egypt, Macron blamed opposition forces for the chaos surrounding the reappointment of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
Lecornu, a Macron ally, formed a new government on Sunday after his first administration collapsed within 14 hours last week. The new cabinet includes figures from Macron's centrist bloc, civil service, and civil society, such as former SNCF head Jean-Pierre Farandou as labour minister and former Paris police chief Laurent Nuñez as interior minister.
France faces a parliamentary deadlock following Macron's snap election last year, with three blocs—left, far right, and centre—holding no clear majority. The left-wing La France Insoumise and the far-right National Rally have both tabled no-confidence motions, though the Socialists are waiting to hear Lecornu's policy speech before deciding their stance.
The new government must pass a 2026 budget by the end of the year, with cuts to public spending expected. Lecornu emphasised the urgency, telling ministers: 'We have to give this country a budget, otherwise we're heading for catastrophe.' His first key policy speech is scheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Macron, whose term ends in spring 2027, refused to speculate on the possibility of another snap election if the government falls. 'I want the country to move forward,' he stated, insisting his only concern is ensuring stability and serving the French people.
