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Édouard Philippe, a one-time supporter of the president, has voiced his support for snap presidential polls considering the gravity of the political crisis affecting the republic.

The statements by Édouard Philippe, a leading center-right hopeful to replace the president, came as the resigning premier, Lecornu, started a final effort to muster cross-party endorsement for a new cabinet to rescue the nation out of its deepening political deadlock.

There is no time to lose, the former PM told the media. We cannot continue what we have been undergoing for the past six months. Another 18 months is unacceptable and it is harming France. The partisan struggle we are engaged in today is alarming.

His comments were seconded by Jordan Bardella, the head of the far-right RN, who earlier this week declared he, too, backed firstly a parliamentary dissolution, then parliamentary elections or snap presidential polls.

The president has requested Sébastien Lecornu, who tendered his resignation on Monday morning just under a month after he was named and a few hours after his fresh government was unveiled, to remain for 48 hours to attempt to save the cabinet and chart a solution from the situation.

Emmanuel Macron has indicated he is ready to shoulder the burden in case of failure, sources at the presidential palace have told local media, a statement generally seen as meaning he would announce premature parliamentary polls.

Rising Unrest Inside Macron's Supporters

There were also signs of increasing unrest within Macron's own ranks, with Gabriel Attal, a previous PM, who chairs the Macron's party, saying on Monday evening he was confused by his actions and it was necessary to attempt a new approach.

Lecornu, who quit after opposition parties and allies alike criticized his government for not representing enough of a break with past administrations, was convening with group heads from early in the day at his office in an attempt to overcome the stalemate.

History of the Turmoil

The French Republic has been in a political crisis for more than a year since the president initiated a snap election in the previous year that resulted in a hung parliament separated into three roughly similar-sized groups: left-wing parties, far right and the president's coalition, with no clear majority.

Sébastien Lecornu was named the shortest-lived PM in recent times when he quit, the republic's fifth PM since the president's 2022 victory and the third since the parliamentary dissolution of the previous year.

Future Votes and Fiscal Concerns

Each faction are staking out their stances before presidential polls set for the coming years that are expected to be a critical juncture in the nation's governance, with the right-wing party under Le Pen sensing its most favorable moment of gaining control.

It is also, being played out against a worsening economic turmoil. The nation's debt-to-GDP ratio is the EU's among the top three after Greece and Italy, almost twice the limit permitted under EU rules – as is its expected budget deficit of around 6%.