A major political misstep by President Emmanuel Macron’s administration has led to the resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, whose controversial cabinet appointments triggered a backlash so severe that his government fell apart before it could even convene. The episode reveals a profound disconnect between the presidency and the political mood of the nation.
Lecornu, the former defence minister, was appointed just last month and entrusted with forming a government that could navigate France’s divided parliament. After weeks of consultations, he unveiled his team on Sunday. However, the lineup was immediately perceived as a failure, a “largely unchanged” roster that signaled a deaf ear to calls for political renewal.
The reaction was swift and unforgiving. Opposition parties united in their condemnation, framing the new cabinet as an arrogant continuation of unpopular policies. This narrative took hold instantly, destroying any hope the government had of building a working relationship with the legislature. The first scheduled cabinet meeting on Monday was preempted by the Prime Minister’s resignation.
This strategic failure has provided ample ammunition to critics like Socialist leader Olivier Faure, who described the situation as an “unprecedented political crisis.” He argued that Macron’s political base was crumbling and that the government had zero legitimacy, a damning assessment that proved to be accurate within hours.
The controversy over the cabinet is more than just a political spat; it has real-world consequences for a nation struggling with its finances. France’s public debt is at a record high, and the country desperately needs a government with the authority to implement tough economic reforms. With this latest collapse, following the ousting of two previous prime ministers on similar grounds, that prospect seems more distant than ever.