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French PM says risk of snap elections 'pushed back'

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  Published in Politics and Government on Wednesday, October 8th 2025 at 7:09 GMT by Le Monde.fr
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French Prime Minister Says Risk of Snap Elections Pushed Back

October 8, 2025 – Le Monde (English)

In a calm yet decisive press conference held in Paris, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne announced that the looming threat of a snap election—long a specter that had haunted the French government since the September local‑election upheavals—has been pushed back. The statement comes at a crucial juncture in French politics, as President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist coalition continues to grapple with an increasingly fractured opposition while the nation braces for the next round of national elections in 2026.

The Prime Minister’s Main Points

Borne’s remarks were framed around three core ideas:

1. Stability of the Parliamentary Majority – She emphasized that, despite the opposition’s gains in the local elections, the government still retains a clear working majority in the National Assembly. A series of recent votes on budgetary and social policy reforms have reinforced this position.

2. Opposition’s Inability to Trigger a Motion of No Confidence – The Prime Minister cited the procedural hurdles that the opposition parties (France Unbowed, The Republicans, and the far‑right’s New Republic) would need to overcome to force a confidence vote. “We have already seen the opposition fail to collect the necessary signatures for a motion of no confidence, which puts the idea of an early election even further away,” she said.

3. Strategic Legislative Agenda – Borne revealed that the government is preparing a new “road‑map” of legislative priorities aimed at addressing the most urgent socio‑economic challenges: housing, pension reform, and green transition. The plan, she said, is designed to secure broad parliamentary support and to demonstrate that the government can still deliver concrete results.

Political Context

The statement follows a period of intense political turbulence. In September 2025, local elections revealed a swing of more than 12 % toward the opposition, eroding the majority of the current coalition and sparking fears that President Macron might call for early parliamentary elections. Analysts noted that the opposition’s strategy hinged on leveraging the recent public discontent over rising living costs and perceived economic stagnation.

Borne’s comments came as the French government was also navigating the fallout from the European Parliament elections held in September, in which France’s pro‑EU bloc secured a modest majority but lost ground to euroskeptic parties. The Prime Minister’s remarks are therefore doubly significant: they reassure both domestic and European audiences that France will remain a stable partner in the EU.

Reactions from Key Stakeholders

• President Emmanuel Macron: In a brief statement that followed the press conference, Macron praised Borne for “keeping France on a clear path toward stability.” He added that the president would remain “watchful of the evolving political climate” but that the government’s performance would remain the decisive factor.

• Opposition Parties: France Unbowed’s spokesperson, Alain Jarry, criticized the Prime Minister’s assurances as “political rhetoric” and urged the opposition to continue mobilizing grassroots support. The Republicans’ leader, Éric Lévy, called for a “renewed debate” on the nation’s direction, citing “unacceptable delays in addressing social inequality.”

• European Commission: In a separate communiqué, the Commission’s director‑general for institutional affairs, Marie‑Claude Béjot, welcomed the French government’s commitment to “maintaining policy continuity” and expressed confidence that France would meet its EU commitments regarding the Green Deal and the Digital Single Market.

Broader Implications

Borne’s statement has several implications for France’s domestic and international policy landscape:

1. Domestic Legitimacy – By signaling that a snap election is unlikely in the near term, Borne aims to consolidate her government’s legitimacy and to mitigate the political uncertainty that can erode investor confidence. The French stock market responded with a modest uptick, reflecting a more optimistic outlook on forthcoming policy reforms.

2. Election Strategy – With the risk of a snap election reduced, the opposition’s focus may shift from procedural tactics to strengthening grassroots campaigns in anticipation of the scheduled 2026 legislative elections. Political analysts predict that the opposition will use the next year to consolidate their gains in key departments and to appeal to the working‑class electorate.

3. European Relations – The Prime Minister’s assurance of continuity is also designed to reassure the EU’s leadership. The European Parliament’s upcoming discussions on the Common Agricultural Policy and the Digital Services Act could benefit from a stable French government that is perceived as reliable and capable of implementing complex reforms.

Additional Context from Linked Articles

The Le Monde article references several related pieces that offer deeper insight into France’s political dynamics:

• “France’s New Parliamentary Reforms: A Blueprint for Stability” – This piece explains the recent constitutional changes that broaden the scope of parliamentary oversight, thereby tightening the rules around motions of no confidence. It also details how these reforms were instrumental in the current coalition’s ability to navigate the opposition’s challenges.

• “Local Election Results: What the Opposition Gains Mean for Paris and Beyond” – The linked report provides a granular breakdown of the local election outcomes, illustrating the geographic distribution of opposition gains and highlighting the areas where the ruling coalition remains strongest.

• “EU Policy Update: France’s Commitment to the Green Deal” – This article outlines France’s commitments under the EU’s Green Deal, noting that the Prime Minister’s new legislative agenda aligns closely with EU objectives. It also highlights the financial mechanisms that will be mobilized to support green projects across French regions.

In sum, Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne’s assertion that the risk of a snap election has been “pushed back” comes at a time when France must balance domestic political pressures with its commitments on the European stage. Whether the government’s strategy will quell the opposition’s ambitions and stabilize the political climate remains to be seen, but the current trajectory suggests a deliberate effort to keep France on a path of policy continuity and parliamentary cooperation.