Macron Pledges to Remain in Office Until 2027

French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirms his commitment to serving his full term until 2027, addressing key challenges facing his administration. Read more.

On Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron declared that he will continue to serve in office until his five-year term concludes in 2027. Following the resignation of Michel Barnier on Thursday, Macron also mentioned that he would appoint a new prime minister within days.

The National Assembly has made history by passing a no-confidence vote against Barnier, resulting in the shortest term for any prime minister in modern French history. Until Wednesday, Georges Pompidou’s government was the sole administration to have been ousted through such a measure back in October 1962.

In his initial public address after the unrest, Macron condemned both the left-wing New Popular Front (NPF) and the right-wing National Rally (RN) opposition, labeling their coalition as an “anti-Republican front.”

“I refuse to take on the burden of other people’s irresponsibility,” he stated.

Although the opposition demanded his resignation, the president affirmed that he would continue to fulfill his mandate and dismissed any possibility of new elections until at least July, in accordance with the French constitution. The nation’s constitution does not obligate a president to resign if their government is ousted.

In June, Macron announced his intention to stay in office until May 2027, irrespective of the results from the snap parliamentary elections he organized over the summer. Meanwhile, Marine Le Pen, leader of RN, claimed that only Macron’s resignation could prevent a deadlock in parliament for the rest of his term.

In September, he appointed Barnier—a 73-year-old conservative and former Brexit negotiator—sparking the ire of the NPF, which had been used to sideline the RN. Since then, the Macron-supported minority government has maintained its grip on power by pitting both sides against each other.

Tensions peaked regarding a proposed social security budget where Barnier aimed to reduce spending by €40 billion ($41.87 billion) and increase taxes by €20 billion in an effort to address a substantial deficit. He utilized the same legislative process that Macron had controversially used to raise the pension age in France, sparking anger among lawmakers.

RN warned of a no-confidence vote unless the cabinet agreed to several concessions regarding its “red lines.”

According to Politico, France is the Eurozone’s second-largest economy but faces “a mountain of debt.” Additionally, its government hasn’t been this fragile nor its parliament so divided for a generation.

Barnier will continue to serve as interim Prime Minister until President Macron appoints a successor. Following the parliamentary election in July, it took nearly two months for the French president to make such an appointment. Holding another vote is not feasible, as the French constitution prohibits this for at least one year after an election.

Although Macron’s bloc finished second in the election, the president possesses the exclusive authority to appoint the prime minister. This appointment does not necessarily have to be from a candidate of the dominant party.