French President Emmanuel Macron said Wednesday he would stay until the "last second" of his second term after a year of domestic political turmoil that included calls for him to resign.
"I will be at work until the very last second, striving each day to live up to the mandate you entrusted to me," he said in a televised New Year's Eve address.
The president spoke as his poll ratings were at an all-time low since he first became head of state in 2017.
Political deadlock has gripped France ever since Macron took the gamble of calling snap polls in 2024, leading to him losing his majority and the far right gaining ground in parliament.
The new year is to be Macron's last full one in office before the 2027 presidential elections, for which pollsters have predicted a victory for the far right.
"I will do everything I can to ensure the presidential election proceeds as calmly as possible -- in particular without any foreign interference," said Macron, who cannot take part in the vote after serving two consecutive terms in office.
Armed forces
He also said that “we must continue to invest in our armed forces, in our security services, in our public services and our economy, despite our financial difficulties,” urging the defence of France’s and Europe’s “independence” and “freedoms.”
“We are witnessing the return of empires, the questioning of the international order (…) The law of the strongest is attempting to prevail in world affairs, and our Europe is being assailed on all sides,” he said.
Macron kept a high international profile in 2025, including as part of efforts to stem the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
But at home, he has faced criticism even from former allies.
Macron's third new prime minister since the snap polls, Sebastien Lecornu, has struggled to push a much-needed austerity budget through the hung parliament.
It had to adopt an emergency law last week to keep the government afloat.
"From the very first weeks of the year now starting, government and parliament will have to come to agreements to provide the nation with a budget," Macron said. "It is essential."
Macron's former prime minister Edouard Philippe -- a 2027 candidate -- in October urged early presidential elections.
Three-time far-right presidential candidate Marine Le Pen called on the president to again dissolve parliament as a way to find a way out of the political deadlock, adding it would be "wise" for Macron to resign.
(with newswires)
