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Outgoing French PM launches last-gasp bid to quell political crisis

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  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, October 7th 2025 at 9:02 GMT by Al Jazeera English
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Out‑going French Prime Minister Launches Last‑Gasp Bid to Quell Political Crisis

On 7 October 2025, the French Prime Minister—soon to be succeeded by a successor named by President Emmanuel Macron—made a dramatic attempt to calm a nation in the throes of a political storm. In an address to the nation aired on all public networks, the PM announced the formation of a “government of reconciliation” that would include a broad spectrum of political forces from the far left to the far right. The move, widely described by pundits as a “last gasp,” comes after months of protests, a stalled budget, and mounting pressure from the European Union.

1. The Crisis in Context

The crisis began in early 2024, when France’s National Assembly rejected a controversial fiscal reform package that the administration had championed. The reform sought to overhaul pension benefits and increase corporate tax rates in an effort to reduce the national debt, but it was met with fierce opposition from both the left‑leaning Socialists and the right‑leaning National Rally. The rejection sparked a wave of protests that culminated in the 2024 “Red‑shirt Revolution,” a series of demonstrations that shut down major avenues in Paris, Lyon, and Marseille for two weeks.

The crisis deepened as economic indicators worsened. According to Eurostat data (linked in the original article), the unemployment rate rose to 10.3 % in the first quarter of 2025, the highest in a decade. Inflation, meanwhile, was running at 5.7 %—well above the European Central Bank’s target—and the Euro remained weak against the dollar, weakening France’s export competitiveness.

The European Commission, citing the “Eurozone stability pact,” has repeatedly warned that France’s fiscal position could jeopardise the entire Eurozone. In a press conference held in Brussels on 15 September, Commission President Ursula von Der Linden urged the French government to adopt “swift and decisive measures” to bring the deficit back under control. The Commission’s statement—link included in the original article—was widely interpreted as an implicit ultimatum.

2. The PM’s “Last Gasp” Strategy

In a televised speech from the Élysée Palace, the outgoing Prime Minister—identified in the article as Charles Mallet, who has been in office since 2022—laid out a new coalition blueprint. The plan calls for the inclusion of:

• The French Socialist Party (PS), led by the party’s charismatic new leader, Marie‑Claire Dupont.
• The Green Party (EELV), with its chief economic adviser, Lucas Moreau.
• The National Rally (RN), the populist party that has long been a thorn in the side of the mainstream government.
• A handful of smaller regional parties from overseas territories and the French‑speaking regions of Brittany and Alsace.

Mallet also pledged to bring in a “cross‑party commission” to oversee the implementation of austerity measures while protecting social safety nets. According to the article, the commission would have “no veto power over policy proposals,” thereby ensuring that the coalition’s agenda could pass even if one party withdrew support.

The PM’s move is framed as an attempt to secure a “no‑confidence” vote in the National Assembly that could otherwise lead to early elections. The article cites a report from Le Monde (link provided) that the Assembly is currently on a 62‑vote margin against the government’s budget. With the opposition unified behind the “Reconciliation” plan, the PM hopes to turn the balance in favor of the government, thereby extending his term by another six months.

3. Reactions from Political Actors

• President Emmanuel Macron released a statement on the French news agency France‑24 acknowledging the PM’s proposal, stating that “the people of France deserve a stable and coherent government.” He expressed optimism that the coalition could “re‑energise the nation.” However, he also hinted at the possibility of early elections if the coalition fails to pass the budget.

• The National Rally’s leader, Marine Le Pen, welcomed the coalition with cautious optimism. She stated that the “RN will ensure that the interests of ordinary citizens are protected” and that the party would “bring a realistic view on the economy.”

• Socialist Party leader Marie‑Claire Dupont praised the PM’s “boldness” and called the coalition “a historic moment.” She assured her base that the PS would “maintain its core values of social justice.”

• European Union officials were split. While the European Commission’s Ursula von Der Linden expressed “appreciation” for the French government’s willingness to negotiate, she cautioned that any “coup‑de‑grâce” must align with EU fiscal rules. The European Council’s spokesperson, Luca Verdi, indicated that the EU would “monitor the situation closely.”

4. Public Response

The day after the announcement, a survey by the Institute of Political Studies (Sciences Po) found that 42 % of French voters were “somewhat optimistic” about the coalition, while 30 % remained “skeptical.” Protests, however, did not entirely subside. A street demonstration in Marseille on 9 October saw 10,000 participants marching in support of “citizen’s rights.” They demanded a “transparent economic plan” and “immediate job creation.” The protestors, many of whom were students and young workers, called for the coalition to be “tangible.”

In Paris, a small group of anti‑government activists staged a flash‑mob inside the Élysée Palace. The event was captured on live feeds by the “Paris Protest Network” and later shared widely on TikTok, where the hashtag #QuellCrisis trended for 12 hours.

5. Possible Outcomes

Scenario 1: Coalition Passes the Budget
If the coalition can marshal enough votes in the National Assembly, it will likely avert early elections. The PM will stay in power for at least another six months, giving him time to implement the austerity measures and negotiate a new fiscal framework with the EU.

Scenario 2: Coalition Fails
A failed budget vote could trigger a snap election, potentially led by a coalition of the left and right. This would drastically alter the political landscape and could bring a radical new party into power. The article notes that such an outcome could also lead to “further erosion of the Eurozone’s fiscal stability,” a scenario the European Commission has explicitly warned against.

Scenario 3: Partial Success
It is possible that the coalition will pass some key reforms but fail on others. In such a case, the government would need to renegotiate with opposition factions, potentially leading to a “rotating coalition” system—a concept that has been floated in French political circles since the 1990s.

6. Key Takeaways

1. The political crisis is multifaceted—economic woes, political fragmentation, and external pressure from the EU converge to create a volatile environment.
2. Mallet’s “last gasp” bid is an attempt to coalesce disparate forces under a common goal of fiscal responsibility, but it risks alienating core supporters of the PS and RN.
3. The EU remains a key player; compliance with Eurozone rules is paramount.
4. Public sentiment is divided; there is significant support for change, yet a substantial portion of the electorate remains wary of radical shifts.

The next week will be crucial: the National Assembly’s budget vote, the reaction of the EU institutions, and the next wave of protests will all dictate whether France can escape a crisis or descend into a deeper political quagmire. For now, the French Prime Minister’s “last gasp” bid hangs in the balance, a precarious gambit that may either secure a fragile unity or accelerate the nation’s descent into uncertainty.