French President Emmanuel Macron was set Friday to choose a new head of government to pull the country out of political deadlock, sparking irritation among allies over the possibility that he could reappoint the same prime minister who resigned earlier this week.
The crisis stems from last year’s snap elections, a gamble by Macron intended to consolidate his power but which instead resulted in a hung parliament and gains for the far right.
Macron was scheduled to meet leaders of all political parties, except the far-right National Rally and the radical left France Unbowed, at 12:30 p.m. GMT at the presidential palace, sources told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
Shortly before the meeting, the presidency urged all parties in a statement to recognize a “moment of collective responsibility,” signaling that Macron could dissolve parliament if they failed to back his preferred candidate.
Macron’s office said he would pick a name by Friday evening after his seventh prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, 39, resigned Monday following months of stalemate over an austerity budget.
