France's Macron vows to work until 'the very last second' of his mandate amid all-time low poll ratings

By Burak Bir

LONDON (AA) - French President Emmanuel Macron pledged Wednesday to work until “the very last second” of his mandate amid a political deadlock in the country.

"I will be at work until the very last second, striving each day to live up to the mandate you entrusted to me," he said in a televised New Year's Eve address.

His remarks came amid all-time low poll ratings since he first assumed office in 2017 amid a political deadlock after his centrist coalition lost its majority in the National Assembly after he called snap elections last year.

"I will do everything I can to ensure the presidential election proceeds as calmly as possible, in particular without any foreign interference," Macron was quoted by public broadcaster Radio France Internationale as saying.

Presidential elections are scheduled to be held in France in or around April 2027, with recent polls predicting a victory for the far right.

Macron is constitutionally barred from serving a third consecutive term but could return in a later election.

Touching on the country's military, he noted that France "must continue to invest" in its armed forces, in its security services, in its public services and economy, "despite financial difficulties."

Saying that wars and instability persist in the international system, he stressed that developments in the Middle East have "consequences" for the French economy, its interests and even its cohesion.​​​​​​​

"We are witnessing the return of empires, the questioning of the international order...The law of the strongest is attempting to prevail in world affairs, and our Europe is being assailed on all sides," he said.

Referring to the budget, he stressed that in the first few weeks of the new year, the government and parliament will have to come to agreements to provide the nation with a budget, as the issue is "essential."

Last week, France’s parliament passed an emergency budget extension in a bid to keep the government in business into January.

Budget battles have already toppled three governments since Macron lost his majority in the 2024 snap election.