Overview

• Caretaker Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said discussions with parties created momentum to pass budget cuts by year-end, calling a dissolution of the National Assembly less likely.
• Lecornu, who resigned after less than a month in office, said he would present his plan to President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday.
• Marine Le Pen and National Rally leader Jordan Bardella refused to join the talks, urging Macron to resign and pressing for the Assembly to be dissolved.
• Recent polling reported by TF1-LCI and Ifop Fiducial shows strong public support for new elections and suggests National Rally leaders would lead in an opening round.
• Macron’s allies have broken ranks, with Gabriel Attal criticizing the president’s decisions, Edouard Philippe calling for an early presidential election, and Elisabeth Borne floating a freeze of the pension reform to unlock negotiations.