Macron to name new French PM as political crisis deepens

His outgoing premier rules out snap elections or exit of president

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French President Emmanuel Macron will name a new prime minister within the next 48 hours, his office said on Oct 8, after the resignation of Premier Sebastien Lecornu tipped the country deeper into political crisis.

Mr Lecornu told French TV in an interview earlier that he expected a new premier to be named - rather than early legislative elections to be called or Mr Macron to resign - in a bid to resolve the crisis.

Mr Macron had on Oct 6 given Mr Lecornu until the evening of Oct 8 to find a way out of months of deadlock over an austerity budget.

Mr Lecornu had resigned early on Oct 6 after less than a month in office in the wake of appointing a pro-Macron Cabinet that caused consternation on the right and left.

"The President thanks Sebastien Lecornu for the work done over these last 48 hours," the presidency said in a statement to AFP.

He "will name a prime minister within 48 hours", it said, adding that a "path was possible" to agree on a budget by the end of 2025.

Mr Macron had the options of reappointing Mr Lecornu, naming the eighth premier of his increasingly troubled mandate, calling snap legislative elections or even resigning himself.