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France's political deadlock explained: Macron under pressure after PM quits

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  Published in Politics and Government on Tuesday, October 7th 2025 at 22:45 GMT by moneycontrol.com
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France’s Political Crisis: Macron Faces a Deadlock After Prime Minister Borne Resigns

The summer of 2024 has become a turning point for French politics. President Emmanuel Macron’s once‑dominant party, La République En Marche! (LREM), has been left scrambling in the wake of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne’s resignation, leaving the nation in a state of political paralysis. A MoneyControl article titled “France’s political deadlock explained – Macron under pressure after PM quits” breaks down the sequence of events that led to the crisis, why the governing coalition is fraying, and what the next steps could be for the French presidency.

1. The Background: A Coalition on Edge

When LREM won a decisive majority in the 2017 presidential election, it enjoyed a comfortable seat in the National Assembly. By 2022, that majority had evaporated. The 2022 legislative elections produced a “rainbow coalition” – LREM, the center‑right Les Républicains (LR), and the Socialists (PS) – in an uneasy alliance. The new parliamentary configuration meant that any major policy, especially something as contentious as pension reform, required delicate negotiations.

The pension reform – which raises the retirement age from 62 to 64, reduces early‑retirement benefits, and redefines pension calculations – has been a lightning rod for anti‑government sentiment. The reform was first drafted in 2019, but faced fierce opposition from the left, and the far‑right’s National Rally (RN) threatened a “nuclear winter” of protests if the measure was passed. The measure’s failure in January 2023 was a major blow to the Macron administration and highlighted the fragility of the coalition.

2. The Parliamentary Vote that Broke the Cohesion

On December 18 2023, the National Assembly convened to vote on the pension reform. The opposition parties staged a “no‑vote” walkout, which forced a tenth‑hour vote that resulted in the bill’s defeat. The LREM majority was not absolute; they needed a two‑thirds majority, which the alliance could not secure. The defeat was a public embarrassment for Macron, who had promised “reforms that will keep France competitive.”

In the aftermath, LREM lost 13 seats in the vote, bringing their total from 239 to 226 – still short of the 225 seats needed for a majority, but dangerously close to the threshold required for a supermajority on constitutional reforms. The defeat also exposed a growing rift within the coalition: the Les Républicains complained about LREM’s “technocratic” approach, while the Socialists insisted that the reform was a betrayal of the party’s traditional labor commitments.

3. Borne’s Resignation: A Symptom of a Broader Crisis

Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne, a seasoned civil servant, had been at the center of the reform effort. Her resignation announcement on December 19, 2023, came amid “increasing pressure” from opposition MPs and an alarming drop in public support for the administration. Borne’s exit was not an isolated event; it was a signal that the coalition’s ability to pass legislation was compromised.

Borne’s resignation left Macron with several options:

1. Appoint a new Prime Minister from within LREM – this would preserve the party’s technocratic approach but risk further alienating the Les Républicains.
2. Select a neutral, technocratic figure – a move that might calm the opposition but could be perceived as a lack of political will.
3. Seek a broader coalition – perhaps including the National Rally or a re‑organized centrist bloc.

The MoneyControl article notes that Macron is “under unprecedented pressure” to demonstrate that his government can still move the needle on key reforms. It also points out that any new cabinet will need to be approved by the National Assembly – a process that has become increasingly politicized.

4. Why the Deadlock Is So Deep

The deadlock is a result of several interlocking factors:

• Parliamentary Fragmentation: With no party holding an absolute majority, any legislation requires cross‑party negotiations that can stall quickly.
• Ideological Incompatibilities: LREM’s liberal‑market reforms clash with the left’s protectionist demands and the far‑right’s populist rhetoric.
• Erosion of Public Trust: The repeated failures of pension reform have eroded confidence in Macron’s leadership, making opposition parties more vocal.
• Economic Pressures: Rising unemployment and inflation add urgency to policy decisions, yet the coalition’s lack of consensus hampers timely action.

The article emphasizes that Macron’s challenge is not just to appoint a new prime minister, but to rebuild a functional coalition that can navigate France’s economic and social challenges.

5. Possible Implications for France and the EU

The French political deadlock has ramifications that reach beyond its borders:

• European Monetary Policy: France is a key player in the Eurozone. Legislative paralysis could slow the adoption of fiscal rules, impacting the European Stability Mechanism.
• EU Budget Contributions: Macron’s inability to pass reforms could hinder France’s commitment to the €1 trillion EU budget proposal, raising concerns among EU partners.
• Regional Stability: As a major NATO member, France’s political stability affects European security architecture, especially in the context of rising tensions with Russia.

6. What Lies Ahead: A Forecast

While the MoneyControl article remains cautious, it offers a few plausible scenarios:

1. A “technocratic” cabinet – a move that could calm the opposition but may be seen as a political retreat.
2. A “Grand Coalition” – a partnership between LREM and the Les Républicains, potentially marginalizing the Socialists and RN.
3. Midterm Elections – a risk that could either cement Macron’s position or usher in a new political era.

In all cases, the key to survival for Macron will be communication: framing reforms as necessary for France’s competitiveness, while showing sensitivity to social welfare concerns.

7. Final Thoughts

The MoneyControl article concludes that France’s political deadlock is a symptom of deeper structural changes: the erosion of a dominant party, the rise of populism, and an increasingly fragmented parliament. It highlights how the resignation of a prime minister can trigger a cascade of political uncertainty, affecting everything from domestic policy to international relations.

The next few months will be critical. Macron’s ability to navigate this crisis will determine not only his political legacy but also France’s trajectory in a rapidly changing Europe. The MoneyControl piece serves as a concise, comprehensive guide for readers wanting to understand the underpinnings of this unfolding drama, linking to additional analyses on pension reform, parliamentary dynamics, and the broader European context.