France’s political landscape was thrown into chaos as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu tendered his resignation just hours after unveiling his new cabinet. The move, accepted by President Emmanuel Macron, marks a dramatic escalation of the nation’s deepening political crisis, leaving the government in a state of uncertainty. Lecornu, a former defence minister and a close ally of the President, had only been appointed to the top post last month.
His appointment was intended to bring stability after a period of significant political friction. Following weeks of intense consultations with various political parties, Lecornu announced his government on Sunday, with its first official meeting scheduled for Monday. However, this crucial step, meant to signal a fresh start, backfired spectacularly. The composition of the new cabinet was immediately met with a storm of criticism.
Opposition parties and even some factions within Macron’s own camp expressed outrage, arguing that the cabinet was “largely unchanged” and failed to represent a genuine shift in policy or approach. This widespread backlash effectively sealed the government’s fate before it could even formally begin its work, creating an untenable situation for the newly appointed Prime Minister.
The sentiment was powerfully articulated by French Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure, who declared that the new government had “no legitimacy left.” Faure, whose party’s support is critical in the divided parliament, stated that Macron’s political group was actively “imploding.” His comments, made just before the resignation, highlighted the severe lack of political capital and support for the new administration.
This latest episode of instability unfolds against a backdrop of severe economic strain. France is grappling with record-high public debt, and its debt-to-GDP ratio is now the third highest in the European Union, trailing only Greece and Italy. The political paralysis, evidenced by the ousting of Lecornu’s two immediate predecessors over spending plans, severely hampers any attempt to address these pressing financial challenges.