So how about another snap election? If Macron calls one, the political landscape could still be mired in exactly the same impasse — but the blame after a vote would more obviously fall on him rather than on his prime minister. And all that time, the financial markets will be running out of patience regarding France’s ability to put its books in order.
All in all, a state of shock grips elected officials, aides and advisers from the various parties that support France’s minority government.
“It’s a tough blow for the president,” said one minister’s political adviser who, like others in this piece, was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the political chaos. They noted that a day of mass protests, potentially shutting the country down, was in the offing only two days after Bayrou’s expected exit.
“A political crisis on Sept. 8, a social crisis on Sept. 10. That’s a regime crisis, isn’t it?”
New man for the Matignon
Macron’s centrists seem to be clutching at straws. The first signals coming out of the Elysée Palace seemed to indicate the president is not considering dissolving parliament and going for another election.
Instead, Macron is thought to be considering tapping the young, center-right Lecornu to lead the government. Someone close to Macron said Justice Minister Darmanin, who has long eyed the premiership, is also a candidate, but doesn’t want to inherit what appears to be a suicide mission.