Immediately Appoint New Prime Minister, French President Macron: Priority Budget

French President Emmanuel Macron. (Wikimedia Commons/Jacques Paquier)

French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday he would appoint a new prime minister in the coming days, with his top priority being to get a parliament-approved 2025 budget.

He said that after Michal Barnier, became prime minister with the shortest term in modern French history when he stepped down on Thursday, after parliament toppled him for his fiscal plans, three months after he was appointed.

In a televised address, President Macron said he would appoint a replacement for the veteran conservative politician "in the coming days."

"The priority is the budget," President Macron said.

A special law to roll out the 2024 budget and avoid inequality will be proposed in mid-December. Then the new government will prepare a full budget early next year, particularly to take into account inflation, for a vote by parliament.

President Macron, whose unpleasant decision to hold an impromptu vote in June resulted in a split parliament, denying he was responsible for the political crisis.

The president, representing the centrist party, said the far-right and left sides were united in an "anti-republic anti-front" to create "chaotic" by eliminating PM Barnier.

President Macron has been weakened by the crisis, but has rejected calls by several opposition parties for him to resign. He reiterated that he will remain in office until his term ends in May 2027.

"The mandate you gave me was for five years and I will fulfill it until the end," he said.

In a 10-minute speech, he added that the new government must represent various parties who are willing to take part in it or at least agree not to criticize it. He did not say which side.

Earlier, President Macron had asked Barnier and his government to remain in temporary capacity until a new government was formed.

It is known that each new prime minister will face the same challenges in facing a divided parliament as Barnier has experienced, especially in passing the budget at a time when France needs to control its public finances.