Does France really need a Prime Minister?

France has had no effective government for 5 0 days, a record since 1946 and the fourth and fifth R epublic. However, this vacancy is not an exception from a European perspective, where forming a government usually demands a prolonged negotiation process . According to the French Constitution, the Prime Minister has substantial power s , even if its role has been weakened since the constitutional reform in 2008 . However, the Prime Minister could regain a key role as a Hung Parliament implies a return to cohabitation or a coalition government. What scenarios? W hereas L. Castets ’ candidacy ( New Popular Front - NP F ) seems to have been ruled out by President Macron due to the lack of a sufficient majority in the National Assembly to avoid a vote of no confidence, c onsultations are intensifying between the President and political parties to find a Prime minister. Se veral names are mentioned , on both the left and the right, as well as personalities from civil society. Should the consultations fail, this would strengthen the likelihood of a technocratic government before new snap elections in the summer of 2025. The first challenge for the next government will be to present a credible b udget in a tight schedule and a very constrained budgetary (excessive deficit procedure, rating agencies warnings , risk of new fiscal slippage, etc.) and political (risk of a no confidence vote ) framework.