France in Turmoil: Former Prime Minister Urges Macron to Call Early Presidential Elections Amid Deepening Crisis

Published: 07 September 2025. The English Chronicle Online.

France’s political landscape has entered one of its most turbulent periods in recent memory, as President Emmanuel Macron faces mounting pressure from both opponents and allies to resolve a deepening political crisis that has paralyzed his government. The latest blow came when Édouard Philippe, Macron’s first prime minister and one of his earliest allies, publicly urged him to appoint a temporary leader to pass the national budget and then call early presidential elections — a move that could mark the end of Macron’s eight-year presidency.

Philippe’s comments, made during an interview with RTL radio on Tuesday, followed the sudden resignation of Sébastien Lecornu, France’s third prime minister in just one year. Lecornu stepped down after his efforts to form a coalition government collapsed, leaving the country without a stable administration at a time of economic and political uncertainty.

President Macron has reportedly given Lecornu until Wednesday to present a final plan for restoring stability, but confidence in the president’s leadership appears to be rapidly eroding — even within his own centrist alliance.

Philippe, who served as prime minister from 2017 to 2020 and now leads the centrist Horizons party, stopped short of calling for Macron’s immediate resignation but made it clear that the president must act decisively to preserve the authority of the French state. “This political crisis is bringing the state into decline… the authority and continuity of the state aren’t being respected,” he warned.

His remarks echoed growing unease within the president’s inner circle. Gabriel Attal, the young and once-loyal leader of Macron’s Renaissance party — who briefly served as prime minister in 2024 — delivered an unusually candid critique on national television Monday night. Attal admitted he “no longer understands the decisions made by the president of the republic,” adding that Macron’s repeated attempts to reassert control had failed. “He has tried three times in the past year to rebuild his government. It’s time we try something else,” Attal said, calling for broader political cooperation.

For the first time, criticism of Macron’s leadership is no longer confined to opposition parties on the radical left and far right. The public interventions by two of his closest allies — Philippe and Attal — underscore just how serious France’s political crisis has become.

The 47-year-old president, who swept to power in 2017 on promises of reform and renewal, was seen on Monday walking alone along the River Seine in Paris, trailed by bodyguards — a solitary image that many French commentators have described as symbolic of his current political isolation.

Macron’s office later issued a brief statement saying that he would “take responsibility” if Lecornu’s final efforts to form a government failed, though it did not specify what that might entail.

The roots of the crisis stretch back to Macron’s decision to call a snap parliamentary election following his centrist bloc’s defeat in last year’s European Parliament elections. That gamble backfired dramatically, as his coalition lost its majority in the National Assembly, leaving him unable to pass key legislation — including an urgently needed national budget aimed at curbing France’s mounting debt.

The country’s budget deficit has ballooned to 5.4% of GDP, sparking warnings from the European Commission and credit rating agencies. Macron’s government has repeatedly struggled to introduce spending cuts, tax reforms, and debt-control measures.

Last month, François Bayrou, a veteran centrist and close ally of Macron, resigned as prime minister after losing a parliamentary confidence vote over his proposed austerity measures. His successor, Lecornu, lasted just 26 days in office before resigning on Monday, blaming what he called “partisan appetites” among the coalition’s member parties for obstructing his efforts to form a functioning administration.

In an attempt to break the impasse, Lecornu began a new round of talks with centrist and moderate leaders on Tuesday. Philippe confirmed that his Horizons party would participate, while Bruno Retailleau of the right-wing Republicans said he would only agree to a one-on-one meeting with Lecornu.

“It’s clear that we are in the midst of a political crisis that dismays and worries our fellow citizens,” Philippe told reporters. “The president should serve the institutions, not use them. He must find a way out of this crisis by ensuring that the state continues to function.”

While Philippe dismissed calls from opposition figures for Macron’s immediate resignation — saying it would create further instability — he nonetheless argued that the president must “leave in an orderly manner” after ensuring that a caretaker government passes the national budget. “When you’re head of state, you don’t use the institutions, you serve them,” Philippe said firmly.

Public frustration with Macron’s leadership has reached new heights. A recent Le Figaro poll of 1,000 French citizens found that 53% believe he should resign before the end of his term. Macron’s approval rating, once among the highest for a modern French president, has plummeted to record lows amid the ongoing government gridlock and economic stagnation.

Adding to the tension, a van caught fire on the Rue de Varenne — the street housing the prime minister’s residence — on Tuesday morning. Although police later described it as an accident, French media outlets were quick to note its eerie symbolism, comparing it to a government engulfed in political flames.

For Macron, who once dominated the European stage as a bold reformer and a centrist alternative to populist politics, the latest crisis represents a steep fall from grace. Once seen as a confident modernizer and the embodiment of a new political generation, he now faces accusations of being detached, indecisive, and increasingly authoritarian.

Observers in Paris say that Macron’s political options are narrowing rapidly. Calling an early presidential election, as Philippe has suggested, could allow him to exit with dignity while giving France a chance to reset its fractured political landscape. However, such a move would also risk empowering far-right leader Marine Le Pen, whose National Rally party continues to gain ground in opinion polls.

For now, the French president remains locked in a delicate balancing act — trying to project authority while seeking compromise among increasingly hostile political factions. Yet as his allies turn against him and the institutions of the Fifth Republic strain under political paralysis, Macron’s future appears uncertain.

Whether he steps aside voluntarily or fights to the end of his term, one thing is clear: France is entering a new and unpredictable phase in its political history — one that could redefine the legacy of Emmanuel Macron and the future of the Republic itself.