🔗 Share this article

France's government instability has deepened after the new prime minister suddenly stepped down within hours of announcing a government.

Rapid Departure Amid Government Turmoil

The prime minister was the third premier in a twelve-month period, as the republic continued to stumble from one political crisis to another. He resigned moments before his first cabinet meeting on the start of the week. The president received his resignation on the start of the day.

Strong Criticism Regarding Fresh Cabinet

Lecornu had faced furious criticism from political opponents when he announced a new government that was largely similar since last month's ousting of his preceding leader, François Bayrou.

The proposed new government was dominated by President Emmanuel Macron's supporters, leaving the government almost unchanged.

Political Criticism

Opposition parties said the prime minister had backtracked on the "major shift" with past politics that he had vowed when he took over from the unfavored former PM, who was ousted on September 9th over a proposed budget squeeze.

Future Political Direction

The question now is whether the head of state will decide to terminate the legislature and call another early vote.

Jordan Bardella, the head of the opposition figure's opposition group, said: "There cannot be a return to stability without a new election and the national assembly being dissolved."

He added, "It was very clearly Emmanuel Macron who decided this cabinet himself. He has understood nothing of the current circumstances we are in."

Election Demands

The opposition movement has advocated for another election, believing they can increase their seats and role in the assembly.

France has gone through a time of instability and parliamentary deadlock since the national leader called an indecisive sudden poll last year. The parliament remains separated between the political factions: the progressive side, the conservative wing and the moderate faction, with no definitive control.

Financial Pressure

A financial plan for next year must be agreed within coming days, even though political parties are at loggerheads and Lecornu's tenure ended in barely three weeks.

Opposition Motion

Factions from the progressive side to far right were to hold discussions on the start of the week to decide whether or not to vote to oust France's leader in a no-confidence vote, and it seemed that the government would collapse before it had even started work. France's leader reportedly decided to step down before he could be ousted.

Ministerial Appointments

Nearly all of the key cabinet roles revealed on the night before remained the same, including Gérald Darmanin as judicial department head and the culture minister as culture minister.

The responsibility of financial affairs leader, which is essential as a fragmented legislature struggles to approve a financial plan, went to Roland Lescure, a presidential supporter who had previously served as economic sector leader at the start of Macron's second term.

Surprise Selection

In a shocking development, a longtime Macron ally, a presidential supporter who had worked as financial affairs leader for seven years of his leadership, was reappointed to government as defence minister. This angered leaders across the political divide, who saw it as a sign that there would be no challenging or change of the president's economic policies.