Photo: Thibault Camus/AP
Former French President Francois Hollande has issued a statement in support of Emmanuel Macron, who is under pressure to resign. In an interview with Ouest-France, Hollande stressed that Macron must complete his mandate to avoid a “major institutional crisis” in the country.
“I’m in favour of meeting deadlines,” said the socialist former president, who does not support the idea of Macron’s early departure from office, unlike opposition leaders Jean-Luc Melenchon and Marine Le Pen. “Despite the criticism, which is numerous, Macron was re-elected, and he must fulfil his duties to the end,” Hollande added.
Political instability
France is going through one of its most difficult periods of political instability. After the defeat of the president’s party in the European elections in 2024 and the dissolution of the parliament, the country received a split National Assembly made up of three blocs: the left-wing alliance, centrists and the right, including the far right. The lack of an absolute majority makes it difficult to make key decisions.
The country is now under the leadership of its fourth prime minister in a year, François Bayrou. His predecessor left office after only three months in office due to a vote of no confidence supported by both left-wing and far-right MPs.
The future of the Socialist Party
Hollande also called for the revival of the Socialist Party, which should become independent of the radical left and attractive to the Social Democrats. The former president predicts that the party congress will be held by the summer of 2025 to determine the strategy for the 2027 presidential election.
Despite the uncertainty, Hollande expressed cautious optimism, suggesting that the Bayrou government could work until the end of the term if it takes into account public demands for pension reforms and “fiscal fairness”.
Political observers believe that France is at a crossroads: whether the situation will be stabilised or the country will face new upheavals again will become clear in the coming months.
