French President Emmanuel Macron is currently navigating a political landscape in search of a solution that would allow him to appoint a new prime minister while ensuring stability in the country. This comes in the wake of the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier, as confirmed by a spokesperson for the outgoing government.
Macron emphasized the importance of maintaining the existing alliance between his centrist allies and conservatives from The Republicans party, despite lacking a parliamentary majority. He expressed these sentiments during a recent Cabinet meeting.
Following a recent no-confidence vote triggered by budget disagreements in the National Assembly, Macron pledged to remain in office until the end of his term in 2027. In the interim, Barnier's government is overseeing current affairs until a new prime minister is appointed.
Macron is currently weighing two potential options for the formation of a new government. The first involves expanding the alliance to include leftist parties, potentially securing a parliamentary majority. The second option entails negotiating with opposition parties on the left to abstain from voting on no-confidence motions.
Meetings have been held with politicians from various political spectrums, including Socialist leaders, as Macron seeks to establish a more stable government. However, discussions have excluded far-right and hard-left parties, with Macron focusing on engaging with moderate political forces.
Meanwhile, the outgoing government has introduced a special bill aimed at enabling tax collection based on current rules from January 1 to prevent a shutdown. This temporary measure is intended to ensure the continuity of public services and financial commitments until a proper budget for 2025 is presented and approved by the new government.