Was it enough for France’s minority government to pass the first hurdle of a trigger-happy hostile parliament that can pass a vote of no-confidence at any time? Reappointed prime minister Sébastien Lecornu offering a suspension of Emmanuel Macron's flagship reform, the raising of the retirement age. We'll review the general policy speech of a Lecornu who this time at least made it to the National Assembly. Last week, his initial coalition government imploded spectacularly after a mere 14 hours.

Lecornu may be willing to bend. But how about his boss? Through one-and-a-half terms in power, Emmanuel Macron has never really done compromise… that is until now. The French president knows that a snap election would further shrink his support in parliament

Markets may be spooked by France’s spiraling public spending… but not as much as they are by the prospect of a prolonged political impasse or a populist wave. On that score, Macron’s not alone in refusing compromise. Just look at a splintered political landscape that goes from the far-right to the hard left. What does that say about the times we live?

Can Macron compromise? What to make his cabinet and speech by Lecornu? We need two pie charts of the National Assembly: one that breaks down the blocs simply and a second that shows the Socialists. A suspension that's a concession. Sébastien Lecornu offering to freeze the retirement age that Emmanuel Macron forced through parliament in 2023 over the objections of trade unions and public opinion.

In May of 2024, Emmanuel Macron's decision to dissolve parliament backfired with his center-right bloc losing seats, the far-right making historic inroads and the left banding together in an electoral alliance. That alliance has since fizzled but the makeup of the parliament now means that the Socialists with their 69 seats and the conservatives Les Républicains with 50 find themselves in the roles of kingmakers...

This time, with Les Républicains leader Bruno Retailleau - a conservative with presidential ambitions - Sébastien Lecornu composing a cabinet with fewer political heavyweights.

Do the Socialists implode if they compromise? What will the French accept in the name of reducing the deficit? What’s politically acceptable

As for the far-right's Marine Le Pen, the National Rally leader in the parliament gesturing during a theatrical walkout during the speech that followed the PM's... during remarks by Conservative Laurent Wauquiez. Le Pen's party standing by its position from last week when she wasn't on the invite list for consultations at the presidential palace.

Produced by François Picard, Rebecca Gnignati, Jean-Vincent Russo, Lila Paulou, Ilayda Habip and Charles Wente.

Second time a charm? French PM Lecornu offers concessions to hostile parliament

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