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.

Macron has yet to make any public comment on the political chaos after Lecornu's resignation early Monday. But his office said Wednesday evening a new premier would be named within 48 hours, an announcement that for now lessened the chance of early elections being called.

Macron's choice is more likely to be divulged Friday, after he was busy Thursday afternoon making remarks at talks in Paris to help Palestinians after the Gaza war, and later in the evening speaking at a ceremony honouring a late justice minister who ended capital punishment.

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