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Former PM Philippe, a one-time partner of Emmanuel Macron, has voiced his backing for premature elections for president given the gravity of the national instability affecting the republic.

The statements by the former PM, a leading moderate right contender to replace Emmanuel Macron, were made as the outgoing prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, started a desperate attempt to gather cross-party support for a new cabinet to rescue the country out of its growing political deadlock.

There is no time to lose, he told the media. We cannot continue what we have been experiencing for the past several months. A further year and a half is far too long and it is harming France. The partisan struggle we are engaged in today is concerning.

His remarks were supported by Bardella, the chief of the nationalist National Rally, who on Tuesday stated he, too, supported first a ending the current assembly, then legislative polls or snap presidential polls.

Emmanuel Macron has asked Lecornu, who tendered his resignation on the start of the week only 27 days after he was appointed and half a day after his fresh government was unveiled, to remain for two days to seek to save the cabinet and devise a solution from the situation.

Macron has indicated he is prepared to assume his responsibilities in the event of failure, representatives at the Elysée have told French media, a remark broadly understood as suggesting he would schedule premature parliamentary polls.

Increasing Dissent Among the President's Own Ranks

There were also signs of rising discontent inside the president's allies, with former PM Attal, a previous PM, who leads the Macron's party, declaring on Monday night he was confused by Macron's decisions and it was time to try something else.

The outgoing PM, who stepped down after opposition parties and partners too condemned his government for not representing enough of a break with previous line-ups, was meeting party leaders from 9am local time at his premises in an bid to resolve the stalemate.

Background of the Turmoil

France has been in a national instability for since last year since the president announced a early poll in 2024 that resulted in a divided legislature separated into three more or less comparable factions: socialist groups, far right and the president's coalition, with no majority.

The outgoing premier was named the briefest-serving prime minister in modern French history when he resigned, the republic's fifth prime minister since Macron's second term and the third since the legislative disbandment of last year.

Upcoming Polls and Economic Issues

Every political group are staking out their stances before presidential elections due in 2027 that are anticipated to be a critical juncture in French politics, with the National Rally under Marine Le Pen anticipating its greatest opportunity of gaining control.

Moreover, being played out against a growing financial crisis. France's debt-to-GDP ratio is the European Union's third highest after Greece and Italy, almost double the maximum permitted under EU guidelines – as is its expected budget deficit of nearly 6%.