Three months later of his appointment as French Prime MinisterSébastien Lecornu has achieved what the two previous prime ministers failed to do: pass the budget and provide a degree of political stability in France. His arrival as prime minister It was very controversialBut he has been able—against all odds—to provide the country with a budget essential for its economic stability and to avoid a vote of no confidence. The two motions rejected Monday night by the National Assembly were the final obstacle for the budget. "We can turn the page," summarized a Macronist deputy.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has narrowly escaped censure. The National Assembly narrowly rejected the motion of no confidence presented by the radical left on Thursday: the motion was voted on by 271 deputies, 18 short of the 289 needed to bring down the government. The Socialists and the right decided not to vote on it, although some rebel deputies from both parties chose to disobey their party's mandate. Shortly after, a second motion of no confidence presented by the far right was also rejected.

After five days of chaos in French politics, the President of the Republic finally appointed a prime minister this Friday, hoping to end the umpteenth crisis. However, Emmanuel Macron didn't look far. In a new surrealist twist, he once again chose Sébastien Lecornu, who just four days ago announced his resignation and two days later declared that he would not return as head of government. "My mission is over," he had declared. With Lecornu's appointment, figure from the right and very close to the president, The possibility of a left-wing government is definitively closed.

France will have to wait at least until Friday to find out whether it will have a new government or whether the President of the Republic will call early legislative elections. This Wednesday evening, the deadline for resigned Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to reach an agreement with the parties to form a government and approve the 2026 budget was due, but it was not possible to close the deal within such a tight timeframe. The acting Prime Minister told President Macron that negotiations are on track and that an agreement and a new Prime Minister could be reached "within 48 hours." The Élysée Palace subsequently confirmed in a statement that the President will appoint the Prime Minister by Friday at the latest.

President Emmanuel Macron finds himself at the most critical moment since he took up residence in the Élysée Palace. After seeing five prime ministers come and go in just two years, the situation is becoming unsustainable. He hasn't spoken publicly for days—his explanations for the entire chaos on Monday, when Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned, were given in a short press release—but his entourage has leaked to the press that if the parties don't agree to form a government that won't be immediately censured, he "will assume his responsibilities." In other words, he will call early legislative elections.

"Who will be able to govern an ungovernable country tomorrow?" asked the newspaper's editorialist. The Depêche, Jean-Claude Souléry, just days after French Prime Minister François Bayrou unexpectedly announced, at the end of August, that he would submit to a vote of confidence in the National Assembly on September 8. Barring a major upset—highly unlikely—France will be left without a government or prime minister this Monday once again.

François Bayrou's government's days are numbered. If the French Prime Minister still held out any hope of being able to overcome the vote of no confidence that will be submitted to the National Assembly next Monday, French far-right leader Marine Le Pen made it clear this Tuesday that she will let the government fall. "There has been no miracle," said Jordan Bardella, president of the National Rally and Le Pen's right-hand man, after meeting with the Prime Minister alongside Le Pen.