Macron’s Vows to Stay in Power, but Faces Mounting Pressure to Resign
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that he will remain in power for the remainder of his five-year term, which ends in 2027. However, his decision comes as he faces growing opposition and criticism over his handling of the country’s political and economic crisis.
In a televised address, Macron blamed the collapse of the government led by Michel Barnier on a “far-right and far-left alliance” and accused those who ousted him of seeking to “provoke” and “precipitate” a new presidential election.
Macron’s address was met with criticism from opposition leaders, including Marine Le Pen, who accused him of “ignoring the new political order” and failing to acknowledge his own role in the crisis. Le Pen, who would have become prime minister if her party had won the parliamentary elections, rejected Macron’s characterizations of the alliance that brought down the government.
Macron also faced criticism from other politicians, including Lucie Castets, who accused him of refusing to admit his own mistakes and said it was “revolting” that he had referred to the alliance that toppled the government as an “anti-republican front”.
The French public appears to be divided on the issue, with 59% of respondents in one poll saying they want Macron to step down, while a survey by another polling firm put the figure at 64%.
Macron’s address did not address the crisis in the government, which was toppled by a no-confidence motion, and instead focused on the need for unity and the need for a new prime minister to be appointed.
The president has indicated that he will hold talks with the leaders of center-right, centrist, and center-left parties to find a consensus on a new prime minister, but the search for a suitable candidate has already been disrupted by internal conflicts within the left-wing alliance, which includes the radical-left France Insoumise and the more moderate Socialists.
