PARIS: Emmanuel Macron’s first prime minister on Tuesday urged the cornered French head of state to resign in a shock call that compounded an escalating political crisis. The intervention by Edouard Philippe, Macron’s longest-serving prime minister from 2017 to 2020 and who now heads an allied political party, came as frustration grew even within the president’s own camp over the biggest domestic political crisis of his eight years in office.

Macron now has to choose a new PM, opt for new parliamentary elections or resign.

Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said on Tuesday that he was in favour of an early presidential election.