France pursues a novice prime minister following a coup d'état
France is currently facing a political crisis, with the government under pressure due to a wave of strikes and protests. The crisis has led President Emmanuel Macron to announce the resignation of Prime Minister François Bayrou, who will step down today.
Macron has stated that he will not call for a new parliamentary election, instead opting for a new head of government. In an effort to ease the pressure, Macron announced a quick appointment of a new head of government. The President is now determined to find a new Prime Minister who can lead the politically divided country.
Several candidates have emerged as potential successors. Among them are Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, Labor and Health Minister Catherine Vautrin, and Finance and Economy Minister Éric Lombard. Recently, Macron proposed Lecornu as the new candidate for the office of Prime Minister.
The EU is watching critically to see if Paris is now serious about cutting back. France is heavily indebted and urgently needs to implement an austerity course and consolidate its finances. The country's budget deficit currently stands at 5.8 percent, far from the European limit of 3 percent.
The ongoing political crisis and public unrest have led to a call for a nationwide blockade on Wednesday. Up to 100,000 protesters and potential blockades and sabotage actions are expected. In response, the French Interior Minister has announced that 80,000 police officers will be mobilized for the day of the blockade.
Trade unions have also called for strikes and demonstrations against the government's austerity course on September 18. If the stalemate drags on too long, there is a risk that confidence in the markets will decline, further burdening French finances.
In a bid to gain a majority in the lower house, Macron's camp could potentially secure the support of the Socialists. This would bring them much closer to a majority and allow them to push forward the budget and other legislative projects. It is also possible that Macron will choose a politician who comes from the Socialists or is at least accepted by them.
With the support of the Socialists, Macron's liberals, the left wing, and the right-wing nationalists around Marine Le Pen face each other as three large blocs in the National Assembly, none of which has its own majority. The political landscape in France is complex, and finding a new Prime Minister who can navigate this complexity is a challenging task for President Macron.
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