Macron Faces Political Turmoil: Is His Presidency at an End?

Sat Oct 11 2025 04:03:43 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

As political tensions rise in France, President Emmanuel Macron grapples with mounting pressure following yet another prime minister's resignation. Will he navigate the crisis or heed calls to step down?

Emmanuel Macron, who once proclaimed himself the ‘master of clocks,’ is now under siege as his presidency faces unprecedented challenges. With three prime ministers resigning within a year, and nearly 75% of voters suggesting he resign, the future of his leadership hangs in the balance. Longtime ally Édouard Philippe recommends appointing a technocrat prime minister in call for stability amidst a looming political crisis and a crippling national debt. The political landscape in France grows uncertain, leading to discussions about potential snap elections for a government grappling with its fiscal future.

After eight years in office, Emmanuel Macron's position as president is coming under increasing pressure as France's political crisis escalates.

Macron once called himself maître des horloges - master of the clocks - but his command of timing is not what it was. For the third time in a year, his choice of prime minister has resigned, and opinion polls suggest almost three-quarters of voters think the president should step down too.

Long-time ally Édouard Philippe, who served as Macron's first prime minister from 2017-20, has urged him to appoint a technocrat prime minister and call presidential elections in an orderly manner.

How did we get here?

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced his resignation at the start of a day of political drama on Monday, after only 26 days in the job.

Hours later he said he had accepted Macron's request to stay on for another 48 hours to hold last-ditch talks with political parties for the stability of the country.

The unexpected twists were the latest in a long series of upheavals that began with Macron's decision to call a snap parliamentary election in June 2024. The result was a hung parliament where Macron's centrist partners lost their majority and had to seek alliances with other parties.

It's all about France's debt

The big challenge facing Lecornu and his predecessors has been how to tackle France's crippling national debt and navigate the ideological divisions between the centre-ground parties that could form a government.

As of early this year, public debt stood at €3,345 billion—almost 114% of economic output (GDP), one of the highest in the eurozone. Critics have dismissed Lecornu's government even before he could present a budget plan for the year.

What happens now?

Discussions among party representatives are ongoing. Legislation needs to pass a budget to tackle national debt, with the threat of new elections looming if Lecornu cannot gain support.

Has Macron run out of road?

Following the resignation of his third prime minister within a year, Macron finds himself isolated, facing some of the hardest choices of his presidency. Political analysts suggest time is running out for Macron as he attempts to stabilize an increasingly chaotic political atmosphere in France.