The French Prime Minister Resigns After Barely Three Weeks Amid Broad Backlash of New Cabinet

France's political turmoil has intensified after the recently appointed premier dramatically resigned within hours of forming a cabinet.

Rapid Exit During Political Instability

The prime minister was the third PM in a twelve-month period, as the country continued to move from one government turmoil to another. He quit a short time before his opening government session on the beginning of the workweek. Macron accepted the prime minister's resignation on the start of the day.

Strong Criticism Regarding Fresh Government

Lecornu had faced furious criticism from rival parties when he presented a fresh cabinet that was mostly identical since last previous month's dismissal of his former PM, François Bayrou.

The proposed new government was led by the president's allies, leaving the cabinet mostly identical.

Political Response

Rival groups said the prime minister had backtracked on the "significant change" with previous policies that he had promised when he came to power from the disliked former PM, who was ousted on 9 September over a proposed budget squeeze.

Next Government Course

The uncertainty now is whether the head of state will decide to dissolve parliament and call another early vote.

The National Rally president, the president of Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party, said: "It's impossible to have a reestablishment of order without a fresh vote and the national assembly being dissolved."

He added, "Obviously the president who determined this cabinet himself. He has misinterpreted of the current circumstances we are in."

Vote Demands

The far-right party has advocated for another poll, confident they can boost their positions and influence in the legislature.

France has gone through a period of uncertainty and parliamentary deadlock since the centrist Macron called an unclear early vote last year. The legislature remains split between the political factions: the liberal wing, the conservative wing and the moderate faction, with no absolute dominance.

Financial Deadline

A budget for next year must be passed within coming days, even though government factions are at disagreement and the prime minister's term ended in barely three weeks.

No-Confidence Motion

Factions from the left to conservative wing were to hold gatherings on the start of the week to decide whether or not to support to dismiss the prime minister in a parliamentary motion, and it looked that the administration would collapse before it had even begun operating. France's leader apparently decided to resign before he could be removed.

Cabinet Positions

Nearly all of the major ministerial positions declared on the previous evening remained the unchanged, including Gérald Darmanin as legal affairs leader and arts and heritage leader as arts department head.

The position of economy minister, which is vital as a split assembly struggles to approve a budget, went to the president's supporter, a presidential supporter who had formerly acted as economic sector leader at the beginning of Macron's second term.

Surprise Appointment

In a unexpected decision, a longtime Macron ally, a Macron ally who had served as economy minister for multiple terms of his term, was reappointed to government as military affairs head. This enraged officials across the political divide, who saw it as a sign that there would be no doubt or change of Macron's pro-business stance.

Timothy Hanson
Timothy Hanson

Award-winning journalist with a passion for investigative reporting and storytelling, based in London.