France's political scene is heating up as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu takes on a tough mission: build a new government in time to launch the 2026 budget by Tuesday. With just days to spare, it's like racing a startup pitch deck before the final call ⏳💼.
After snap polls last year left parliament hung and the far right on the rise, Lecornu faced his own F5 moment: resigning his first cabinet, only to be tapped again by President Emmanuel Macron to try one more time.
The right-wing Republicans, a key ally, shook things up by opting out of the new cabinet and offering to vote bill by bill instead. That means Lecornu needs to woo each party individually, from Socialists to centrists, to form a working majority 🤝.
Why the rush? France must unveil its draft budget by Tuesday to give lawmakers 70 days to review it before year-end. Falling behind risks EU fines and a hit to public trust as debt climbs.
Lecornu has vowed to pick ministers free of strict party ties and keep debates open, even on the hot-button pension reform that raised the retirement age to 64. Socialists have warned they will vote down any cabinet that pushes ahead without fresh talks on this.
Meanwhile, Macron heads to Egypt on Monday to support a Gaza ceasefire deal, a trip that could stall the budget rollout. Global diplomacy meets fiscal deadlines—dramatic stuff worthy of a Netflix docuseries 🎥.
Whether France finds its political groove or stalls in a deadlock, the next 48 hours will shape everything from taxes to social welfare for millions. Stay tuned as Lecornu races the clock!
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
