France’s Le Pen vows to block any government
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French far-right leader and member of Parliament Marine Le Pen pledged to make impossible the life of any new Cabinet.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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PARIS – France’s far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Oct 8 she would thwart all action by any new government, throwing into doubt Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s ability to solve the country’s deepening political crisis with a coalition Cabinet.
President Emmanuel Macron is facing the worst domestic crisis of his mandate, with the clock ticking down to a deadline on the evening of Oct 9 for a working government to be formed.
France has been mired in political deadlock ever since Mr Macron took the gamble in 2024 of snap elections that he hoped would consolidate power – but ended instead in a hung Parliament and more seats for the far right.
Ms Le Pen’s far-right National Rally – the single biggest party in Parliament – has urged Mr Macron to call new snap polls, or resign.
On Oct 8, she pledged to make impossible the life of any new Cabinet.
“I vote against everything,” the three-time presidential candidate said, after her group refused to take part in talks to end the crisis.
Speaking at a livestock fair in central France, she compared French political life to a “rodeo”.
Their idea is “how long can I hold on while the horse tries to throw me off?” the 57-year-old said.
Ms Le Pen’s anti-immigration party senses its best ever chance of winning power in the next presidential elections due in 2027, with Mr Macron barred from running.
Since the snap 2024 vote, the legislative chamber has toppled two prime ministers in a stand-off over next year’s austerity budget.
Mr Lecornu resigned on Oct 6 after criticism of his new Cabinet line-up.
But with public debt at an all-time high, Mr Macron convinced him to stay on until the evening of Oct 8, to try to break the impasse.
After meeting centrists and right-wing politicians, Mr Lecornu on the morning of Oct 8 said there had been consensus so far on “a desire to have a budget for France before Dec 31”.
He also reported a “convergence that pushes back the prospect of dissolution” of Parliament, before meeting left-wing leaders.
He was expected to speak again at 6pm GMT on Oct 8.
Assume responsibilities
If Mr Lecornu can not reach a solution, Mr Macron said on Oct 6 that he would “assume his responsibilities”, apparently referring to early parliamentary elections.
It was also not clear if the Socialists, a key swing group in Parliament, would be on board with any compromise.
Leaving the premier’s office, Socialist party leader Olivier Faure seemed disillusioned a deal would not include scrapping a deeply unpopular 2023 pensions reform.
Former prime minister Elizabeth Borne, now outgoing education minister, said late on Oct 7 it could be on the table.
The measure to raise the age of retirement from 62 to 64, which she passed through Parliament without a vote by using a controversial constitutional power, sparked months of angry protests.
Far right leads in polls
Mr Macron is under serious pressure to end the protracted crisis, even from his former allies.
Mr Macron’s former prime minister Edouard Philippe on Oct 7 said early presidential polls should be held early as soon as a budget is passed.
Mr Macron, who was first elected in 2017, has repeatedly said he would serve until the end of his second term.
Ms Le Pen is currently barred from standing in elections due to a corruption conviction which she is appealing.
But her anti-immigration National Rally leads voting intentions for a possible early presidential election, regardless of its candidate, according to a new poll published on Oct 7.
The far-right party would come out well ahead in the first round, according to the Toluna Harris Interactive poll for broadcaster RTL.
If Ms Le Pen’s protege 30-year-old Jordan Bardella ran, he would win 35 per cent of the vote, followed by former centrist prime minister Edouard Phillipe with 16 per cent.
The French president’s domestic isolation contrasts with his visibility on the international stage, where he in September recognised Palestinian statehood and is seeking to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine together with US President Donald Trump.
Mr Macron’s popularity has plummeted since the summer of 2024.
An opinion poll by Odoxa of more than 1,000 French people published on Monday found that 70 per cent were in favour of the president’s resignation. AFP
