The revolving door at the French Prime Minister’s office is spinning faster than ever, with Sebastien Lecornu stepping down just hours after appointing his cabinet. His departure marks the third time in recent history that a Prime Minister has been forced out, deepening a political crisis that President Emmanuel Macron appears unable to resolve.
Lecornu, a staunch Macron ally, was brought in last month to end the very instability that has now consumed him. His mission was to form a government that could survive the fractured political landscape. He spent weeks in negotiations, only to announce a cabinet on Sunday that, instead of calming tensions, ignited a political firestorm due to its lack of significant changes.
The backlash was immediate and bipartisan, uniting opposition forces in their rejection of the new administration. The government was declared illegitimate and dead on arrival, a powerful political blow that made Lecornu’s position untenable. The Elysee Palace confirmed his resignation had been accepted, formalizing the collapse of the government.
The political turmoil has been a gift to opposition leaders like Olivier Faure, who pointed to the event as proof that Macron’s political movement is “imploding.” The criticism strikes at the heart of the President’s authority and his ability to command a majority or even a consensus on the direction the country should take.
This pattern of short-lived governments is directly linked to France’s economic struggles. The previous two Prime Ministers, Francois Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were ousted in standoffs with the legislature over the national spending plan. With public debt at a record high, the inability to form a stable government to address the issue puts France in a perilous position.
France’s Revolving Door Premiership: Lecornu Out, Crisis Deepens
