A political earthquake has rocked Paris as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced his resignation, a shocking move that came just hours after he formed his government. The decision has exposed the deep and worsening political crisis paralyzing France, leaving President Emmanuel Macron scrambling to maintain control amidst growing chaos.
Lecornu, who previously served as defence minister, was handpicked by Macron last month to lead the government through a turbulent period. His primary task was to build a stable administration after weeks of difficult negotiations. However, the cabinet he unveiled on Sunday was met not with acceptance, but with a torrent of criticism from all corners of the political arena.
The backlash was rooted in the perception that the new government was simply a rebranded version of the old one. For opposition parties and disillusioned supporters, this “largely unchanged” lineup was a sign that Macron’s administration was unwilling or unable to heed calls for a new direction. This rejection created an immediate crisis of confidence from which the new government could not recover.
The speed of the collapse is a telling sign of the political toxicity in France. The government was effectively dismantled by public and political condemnation before its ministers had a chance to meet. Olivier Faure of the Socialist Party aptly described the situation as an “unprecedented political crisis,” a sentiment that now echoes across the nation as it faces yet another period of uncertainty.
This political instability is occurring at the worst possible time, with France’s economy on precarious footing due to record-high public debt. The revolving door of prime ministers, with two others recently ousted over budgetary disputes, shows a system in distress. Lecornu’s swift departure is not an isolated incident but the latest symptom of a country struggling with profound challenges to its governance.