After Lecornu's resignation, pressure mounts on Macron – former prime minister calls for new elections

Former French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe told RTL on Tuesday that he was in favor of early presidential elections in light of the current political crisis in the country.

Philippe's comments, who was prime minister from 2017 to 2020, were echoed by Jordan Bardella, the leader of the right-wing Rassemblement National party. In an interview with BFM TV, he said that he primarily supported the dissolution of parliament, followed by parliamentary elections or early presidential elections.

The new French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu surprised the public on Monday when he resigned immediately after the official presentation of his cabinet. President Macron accepted his resignation immediately.

Lecornu was already the fifth prime minister in the last two years—a sign of how much the French executive branch has reached an impasse. Lecornu himself sees the cause and blame in the stubbornness of the parties.

(reuters, max)