France's Macron vows to stay in office till end of term, says he'll name a new prime minister soon

PARIS (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to stay in office until the end of his term, due in 2027, and announced that he will name a new prime minister within days in efforts to overcome the political deadlock following the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier.

On Thursday evening, Macron came out fighting a day after a historic no-confidence vote prompted by budget disputes at the National Assembly left France without a functioning government. He laid blame at the door of his opponents on the far right for bringing down Barnier's government.

“They chose disorder,” he said.

The president said the far right and the far left had united in what he called “an anti-Republican front” and stressed: “I won’t shoulder other people’s irresponsibility.”

Earlier in the day, Macron “took note” of Barnier’s resignation after just three months in office — the shortest tenure of any prime minister in modern French history.

He said he’d name a new prime minister within days but gave no hints as to who that might be.

On Friday, Macron started holding talks with politicians from the left and the right, including Socialist leaders perceived as moderate who now appear as key in efforts to form a more stable government.

While critical of his political opponents, Macron also acknowledged what he described as his own responsibility in the chaos now shaking French politics and alarming financial markets.

He revisited his decision in June to dissolve parliament. That precipitated the crisis, leading to legislative elections that produced the now hung parliament, divided between three minority blocs that do not have enough seats to govern alone.

“I do recognize that this decision wasn’t understood. Many criticized me for it,” Macron said. However, he argued, “I believe it was necessary” to let French voters speak.

Macron said the new prime minister “will be charged with forming a government of general interest."

He confirmed that a special law will be presented by mid-December to enable the state to levy taxes from Jan. 1, based on this year’s rules, and avoid a shutdown.

“Public services will be operational, businesses will be able to work,” he said.

The new government will then prepare a budget law for 2025, which will allow France to invest as planned in its military, its justice and police — and also to support struggling farmers, Macron said.

Along with its own domestic political and financial difficulties — not least France’s ballooning levels of debt — Macron noted that the country faces multiple international challenges, citing the wars in Ukraine and Middle East.

He looked back at the Paris Olympics in July-August and ahead to the reopening this weekend of Notre Dame Cathedral, arguing that France can emerge from this latest political crisis if it sets its mind on it.

“It’s proof that we know how to do great things, that we know how to achieve the impossible," he said.

"Twice this year, the world has admired us for this,” he said, referring to the hosting of the Olympics and the restoration of Notre Dame. “Well, for the nation, we must do same thing.”

Macron faces the critical task of naming a replacement for Barnier capable of leading a minority government in a parliament where no party holds a majority. Yaël Braun-Pivet, president of the National Assembly and a member of Macron’s party, urged the president to move quickly.

“I recommend he decide rapidly on a new prime minister,” Braun-Pivet said Thursday on France Inter radio. “There must not be any political hesitation. We need a leader who can speak to everyone and work to pass a new budget bill.”

The process may prove challenging. French media have reported a shortlist of centrist candidates who might appeal to both sides of the political spectrum.

The no-confidence vote has galvanized opposition leaders, with some explicitly calling for Macron’s resignation.

“I believe that stability requires the departure of the President of the Republic,” Manuel Bompard, leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, said on BFM TV Wednesday night.

Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, whose party holds the most seats in the Assembly, stopped short of calling for Macron’s resignation but warned that “the pressure on the President of the Republic will get stronger and stronger.”

The French constitution does not call for a president to resign after his government was ousted by the National Assembly. It also says that new legislative elections cannot be held until at least July, creating a potential stalemate for policymakers.

The political instability has heightened concerns about France’s economy, particularly its debt, which could rise to 7% of GDP next year without significant reforms.

Analysts say that Barnier's government downfall could push up French interest rates, digging the debt even further.

Rating agency Moody’s warned late Wednesday that the government’s fall “reduces the likelihood of consolidating public finances” and worsens the political gridlock.

A planned protest by teachers against budget cuts in education took on a new tone Thursday, as demonstrators in Paris linked their demands to the political crisis.

“Macron quit!” read a sign held by Dylan Quenon, a 28-year-old teacher at a middle school in Aubervilliers, just north of Paris.

Quenon said Macron bears responsibility for what he described as the dismantling of public services such as schools. “The only way for this to change is to have him out of office,” he said.

Protesters expressed little hope that Macron’s next appointee would reverse course.

“I’m glad this government is falling, but it could possibly lead to something even worse,” said Élise De La Gorce, a 33-year-old teacher in Stains, north of Paris.

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation following the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier, a day after a historic no-confidence vote at the National Assembly left France without a functioning government. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 in Versailles, outside Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

A waiter serves a beer as French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation following the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier, a day after a historic no-confidence vote at the National Assembly left France without a functioning government. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 in Versailles, outside Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

A waiter works as French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation following the resignation of ousted Prime Minister Michel Barnier, a day after a historic no-confidence vote at the National Assembly left France without a functioning government. Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 in Versailles, outside Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation as people enjoy a drink in a bar of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, southwestern France, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (AP Photo/Nicolas Mollo)

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation as people enjoy a drink in a bar of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, southwestern France, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (AP Photo/Nicolas Mollo)

French President Emmanuel Macron addresses the nation as people enjoy a drink in a bar of Saint-Jean-de-Luz, southwestern France, Thursday, Dec. 5, 2024 (AP Photo/Nicolas Mollo)

Parliament members gather while France's minority government may be on its last legs as opposition lawmakers moved this week toward a no-confidence vote, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler)

FILE - French Prime Minister Michel Barnier attends a debate at the National Assembly while France's minority government may be on its last legs as opposition lawmakers moved this week toward a no-confidence vote, Monday, Dec. 2, 2024 in Paris. (AP Photo/Michel Euler, File)

FILE - French President Emmanuel Macron, right, and Prime Minister Michel Barnier stand at attention during commemorations marking the 106th anniversary of the November 11, 1918, Armistice, ending World War I, at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, Monday, Nov. 11, 2024. ( Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP, File)

NEW YORK (AP) — To celebrate an upcoming milestone, Alyssa Math could think of nothing more fitting than front-row tickets to “Onyx Storm” author Rebecca Yarros' appearance at The Town Hall in Manhattan.

“I'm getting married next weekend, so this is my bachelorette party,” said Math, an accountant who traveled with friends from her home near Annapolis, Maryland. She has been one of millions of admirers of Yarros' work and a year ago drove two hours to Reston, Virginia to see the author.

“It's a huge cult following,” said Math, wearing a white veil in homage to one of Yarros' characters. “The drama (of her books) keeps you on the edge of your seat.”

Friday night at The Town Hall had the feel of a costume party, rock concert and family reunion as a capacity crowd of around 1,500 clapped, laughed and shouted, “Yes, Queen!" Yarros' “Empyrean” series has made her one of the country's most popular and obsessed-about leaders of romantasy, a newly branded genre that combines romance and fantasy.

“Onyx Storm” is the much-awaited third installment of a planned five centered on the lovers Violet and Xaden, and the first since the million-selling “Iron Flame” came out in 2023. In its first week of publication, "Onyx Storm" has already topped the bestseller lists of Amazon and sold more than 300,000 copies just through Barnes & Noble, according to a spokesperson for the superstore chain.

Yarros, interviewed for some 75 minutes by Olympic gymnast and avowed fan Laurie Hernandez, shared a few insights about her writings (she already knows how the series will end), spoke lovingly of her husband ("He's 6'4" and hot as hell with a baby strapped to his chest"), swore casually and joked that hers was the “only profession where you can have imaginary fiends” and not be considered insane.

She expressed relief and pleasure over completing “Onyx Storm," while pointing out that she had to block out her own popularity to get the writing done.

“As much as I love you guys, I kind of pretend you don’t exist,” she said. “I kind of ignore you, but I love you at the same time.”

“Onyx Storm” isn't quite a Harry Potter-level phenomenon — the final Potter book, “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” sold more than 8 million copies in the U.S. in its first 24 hours — but it carries a similar feeling of obsession, identification and spontaneity.

Like the Potter books, the release of “Onyx Storm” was welcomed with midnight store parties around the country, gatherings for which fans showed up in costume. Some fans at The Town Hall finished the 526-page “Onyx Storm” within hours of receiving it, others are in no hurry.

‘This is a book I personally want to take my time with," said Scarlett Fuentes, who arrived with her friend Zy Bao-angan, both of them in black leather.

"I want to savor this moment," Bao-angan said.

Like Potter, enthusiasm for the Yarros books extends well beyond any organized publicity campaigns. The Potter books helped inspire some of the first Internet fan sites for books. Yarros and such fellow romantasy authors as Sarah J. Maas have been favorites of the young readers on BookTok, a TikTok community that has emerged as publishing's most effective driver of sales. Countless fans on BookTok and other social media — some crying, some cursing in amazement — have been posting their responses to “Onyx Storm."

On Friday night, Hernandez and audience posted questions about her books as if gossiping about friends. If Violet and Xaden were at a bar, what would they order? (Violet would go for a lavender lemon drop, Xaden is fine with a beer). And which music genres define them? Xenon is heavy metal, Violet harder to label.

Asked what was the most important lessons she's learned from writing the books, Yarros reminded her fans that she wasn't only a writer or public figure.

“I can say plotting and I can say everything, but probably the most important thing I've learned is that real life is what happens in my house, and what happens around my kitchenette and what happens in my living room chairs and what happens when my kids are all together and my husband's together,” she said. “Real life is not what happens on the internet.”

“I love you guys,” she added. “But peace out.”

Audience members attend author Rebecca Yarros in conversation of her new book "Onyx Storm" at The Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)

Audience members attend author Rebecca Yarros in conversation of her new book "Onyx Storm" at The Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)

Audience members attend author Rebecca Yarros in conversation of her new book "Onyx Storm" at The Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)

Audience members attend author Rebecca Yarros in conversation of her new book "Onyx Storm" at The Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)

Audience member attend author Rebecca Yarros in conversation of her new book "Onyx Storm" at The Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)

Audience members attend author Rebecca Yarros in conversation of her new book "Onyx Storm" at The Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)

Audience member attends author Rebecca Yarros in conversation of her new book "Onyx Storm" at The Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)

Audience members attend author Rebecca Yarros in conversation of her new book "Onyx Storm" at The Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)

Audience members attend author Rebecca Yarros in conversation of her new book "Onyx Storm" at The Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)

Audience members attend author Rebecca Yarros in conversation of her new book "Onyx Storm" at The Town Hall on Friday, Jan. 24, 2025, in New York. (Photo by CJ Rivera/Invision/AP)