Ex-French PM and Macron’s former ally urges him to quit

Emmanuel Macron's first prime minister and one-time ally on Tuesday urged the cornered French head of state to resign in a shock call that compounded an escalating political crisis.

The intervention by Edouard Philippe, Macron's longest-serving prime minister from 2017 to 2020 who now heads an allied political party, came as frustration grew even within the president's own camp over the biggest domestic political crisis of his eight years in office.

Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, appointed less than a month ago, stepped down on Monday morning after failing to rally support across the centre-right coalition for his new government, which is also only supported by a minority in parliament. Macron ordered him to make a last-ditch effort to rally support for a coalition government,


But there was no sign of progress, with the far right refusing to even attend a meeting.

France's next presidential elections, scheduled to take place in 2027, are seen as a historic crossroads in French politics, with the French far right under Marine Le Pen sensing its best chance yet of taking power. Macron is constitutionally barred from seeking a third mandate.