French President Emmanuel Macron's Plan for a New Prime Minister

By Elizabeth Pineau and Michel Rose

PARIS (Reuters) – French President Emmanuel Macron is aiming to quickly appoint a new prime minister if his government falls on Wednesday, according to three sources.

One source noted that Macron hopes to have a successor in place by Saturday, coinciding with a significant event: the re-opening of the Notre-Dame Cathedral, which will feature an A-list guest list that includes U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.

In response to a request for comment, the Elysee stated, "Nothing has been decided."

Following a recent snap election that resulted in a hung parliament, Macron spent weeks negotiating with various political figures before ultimately choosing Michel Barnier to lead the government. This time, Macron aims to act swiftly to avoid unsettling the markets.

The president has yet to finalize a name for the new prime minister, but potential candidates include leftist Bernard Cazeneuve, former minister Xavier Bertrand, and Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu. It was reported that Macron is considering these options as he returns to Paris from a trip to Saudi Arabia.

It remains uncertain whether Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party will support Macron's nominee or attempt to immediately challenge the appointment through a no-confidence motion, likely collaborating with leftist parties.

The RN and leftists are expected to end Barnier's short tenure on Wednesday with a no-confidence vote, following extended tensions over the approval of the 2025 budget bill.