Emmanuel Macron is expected to appoint a new prime minister within 48 hours, following the abrupt resignation of Sébastien Lecornu’s government just 14 hours after being named. Lecornu, asked to outline a path forward, concluded that most lawmakers oppose snap elections and that a narrow parliamentary plurality could support a 2026 budget aimed at reducing France’s deficit, projected at 5.4 percent of GDP. Macron now faces the challenge of naming a leader capable of governing without a parliamentary majority - the same obstacle that brought down Lecornu’s predecessors. Choosing a centre-left prime minister from the Socialist Party could help build a coalition but would probably reignite controversy over Macron’s contested pension reform, which raised the retirement age. With political divisions deepening, Macron has yet to comment publicly, while far-right leader Marine Le Pen and her party have said they would vote to topple any new prime minister named before new elections, intensifying France’s ongoing political instability. For an assessment of Macron’s options, see