N. Peter Kramer’s Weekly Column
Instead, the elections resulted in a hung parliament divided into three ideologically opposed factions deeply at odds with one another and unwilling to work together.
Michel Banier was appointed prime minister September last year but was ousted within three months. The government of his successor François Bayrou’s was also voted down after nine months. And yesterday, number 3, Sébastien Lecornu, throw in the towel.
The decision on how to proceed now rests with Macron, who must surely be asking himself how long this political charade can be allowed to go on. He has three options: He can appoint another prime minister. He can once again dissolve the General Assembly. Or he can resign himself.
The last is the least likely, while the first would be his natural choice. However, who now could he name to form a government? Lecornu was seen as his last resort, but now he has failed.
So, the logic must surely be for option two, for new legislative elections. But the result will probably be a rout for the pro-Macron centre and a big victory for the hard-right of Marine le Pen. When every other recourse fails, few other avenues remain.
In the meantime, France’s deficit reached 5.8 percent of its GDP and its national debt is 114 percent of its GDP. That means an equivalent to almost €50.000 per French citizen. A government that gets the parliament backing for an austerity budget is more than an essential urgent need!
