French President Emmanuel Macron reaffirmed on Thursday (December 5) he would stay on until the end of his mandate, due in May 2027, in an address to the nation held a day after lawmakers toppled his government led by Michel Barnier, Reuters reports.
"The mandate you have given me is for five years and I will exercise it until the very end," Macron said during a 10-minute speech, adding he would name a new prime minister in the "coming days".
Macron further blamed the current situation on the “lack of responsibility” of opposition lawmakers and said the far right and far left had formed an “anti-republican front.”
He said the new government would pass a special law repeating the 2024 budget for 2025, and then drafting a new budget early next year.
Macron met allies and parliament leaders throughout Thursday as he sought to swiftly appoint a new prime minister to replace Barnier, who officially resigned a day after opposition lawmakers voted to topple his government.
The Elysee Palace said Macron had asked Barnier and his government to stay on in a caretaker capacity until a new government is formed.
