In a stunning display of political instability, Sebastien Lecornu’s tenure as French Prime Minister has become one of the shortest in modern history, ending just hours after he appointed his cabinet. The rapid collapse of his government underscores the profound crisis gripping the nation, where political consensus has become all but impossible.
Appointed by President Emmanuel Macron last month, Lecornu was expected to navigate the treacherous waters of French politics. He spent weeks in dialogue with various parties to assemble a team capable of governing. On Sunday, the cabinet was finally revealed. By Monday, before the ministers could even meet, the government had already ceased to exist, a testament to the ferocity of the political opposition.
The immediate cause of this political firestorm was the composition of the cabinet itself. Critics from all sides blasted the lineup as a mere reshuffling of the old guard, offering no new direction for a country yearning for change. The backlash was so intense and immediate that Lecornu’s position became untenable in a matter of hours, forcing him to submit his resignation to the President.
This event has laid bare the deep fractures within the French political system. The opposition, led by figures like Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure, had already declared the government illegitimate before the resignation was even announced. This swift and unified condemnation demonstrated the new administration’s complete inability to build a workable coalition or command any respect in parliament.
This political meltdown is occurring as France faces enormous economic headwinds. The nation’s public debt has reached a record high, a critical issue that previous governments also failed to manage. Lecornu is the third prime minister to be effectively ousted due to parliamentary standoffs over the budget, revealing a cycle of failure that threatens the country’s future.