French caretaker Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Wednesday a deal could eventually be reached on a 2026 budget despite the country's political crisis, striking a cautiously optimistic tone as he held talks with various parties.

PARIS (AP) — Outgoing French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, aiming to calm the political storm triggered by his resignation on Monday less than 24 hours after unveiling his ministers, faced a tight deadline Wednesday to break the deadlock caused by his departure.

The reappointment comes as part of Macron 's bid to avoid plunging France into another political crisis. However, it has not been well received.

PARIS (Reuters) -Caretaker French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu struck a cautiously optimistic tone on Wednesday, saying a deal could potentially be reached on the country's budget by year-end, making the risk of a snap election more remote.

Sébastien Lecornu has been given until Wednesday evening to come up with a plan for the "stability of the country".

While France has a long history of hefty overspending, economists say political turmoil – which has stalled policymaking – is bringing the country’s debt problem to a head.

President Emmanuel Macron welcomed mainstream political leaders to a crunch meeting at the Elysee ahead of a self-imposed late-Friday deadline to name a new prime minister, as the country's central bank chief warned political turmoil was sapping growth.

France on Thursday awaited in suspense over who would be its next prime minister as a deadline ticked down for President Emmanuel Macron to name a new premier after Sebastien Lecornu's resignation threw the country further into political turmoil.