France's top party leaders met with President Emmanuel Macron late Tuesday to address the country’s latest political crisis after the ousting of prime minister Michel Barnier. The leaders reportedly said that Macron aims to appoint a new prime minister "within 48 hours". Absent from the talks were the heads of the far-right National Rally and the hard-left France Unbowed, the two parties behind the motion against Barnier.
Party chiefs who met with Macron told the French news agency AFP that he intended to name a new premier within 48 hours.
Macron had gathered leaders of major political parties at the Élysée Palace office in a bid to thrash out the conditions for a new government that could escape losing a no-confidence vote in France's hung parliament.
The effort to find a way forward comes as caretaker ministers scramble to clarify France's 2025 finances, after the previous administration fell over its cost-cutting budget plans.
Barnier had been supported by the conservative Republican party and Macron's centrist camp.
But the alliance was far short of a majority in a National Assembly and was brought down by a left-wing alliance, including France Unbowed, and the far-right RN.
Rocky road ahead
It was unclear how a broader base of support could be built for any new government.
RN figure Marine Le Pen said the party leaders were gathering for the purpose of "keeping their place" at the table.
“They didn't together to find out how to solve the problems of the French, but rather to 'stay on the horse'," she told France 2 television on Wednesday. Even if she had been invited, Len Pen added, she wouold not have gone.
Most parties are unwilling to compromise on pet issues such as last year's unpopular pension reform, or to tarnish their image with voters by giving ground ahead of potential new elections next year.
Outgoing French government to present 'special' budget to avoid shutdown
In a letter this week, Socialist leaders told Macron they were open to "dialogue and pitting points of view against one another" to "find an exit from this deadlock situation that's harmful to the French public".
But they added that they would not join a technocratic government or one run by a prime minister from the right, and called for "a true change of political course" on "pensions, purchasing power and tax justice".
There is little hope for a quick resolution to the political crisis.
The Greens have ruled out joining a "national interest" government while the Socialists said they would only serve under a left-wing premier – which has been ruled out by conservatives.
