French Government in Chaos: PM Lecornu’s Cabinet Collapses After Hours

France is grappling with an unprecedented political crisis following the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, mere hours after he formed his cabinet. The dramatic collapse of his government, which lasted a staggering 14 hours, marks a significant blow to President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to stabilize the nation’s political landscape.

Lecornu, appointed just three and a half weeks ago and touted as Macron’s ‘last card’ to forge a stable alliance, departed before even having the chance to address parliament. His swift exit follows the similarly short tenures of his predecessors, Michel Barnier and François Bayrou, intensifying the sense of political turmoil gripping the country.

The immediate trigger for Lecornu’s downfall appears to be the conservative Republicans party (LR) and its leader, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. Despite initial indications of joining the government, Retailleau publicly reversed his decision shortly after the cabinet was announced. The LR cited the unexpected inclusion of former finance minister Bruno Le Maire, a figure unpopular with conservatives, as defence minister as their reason for withdrawal.

In a late development, Le Maire reportedly agreed to step aside, granting Lecornu a 48-hour reprieve from President Macron to attempt to salvage a deal with the LR. However, the deeper issue of political fragmentation and Macron’s declining popularity continues to make forming a stable government increasingly challenging as France heads towards the 2027 presidential election. The ongoing instability underscores the difficulties for any figure associated with the embattled president to secure public confidence and political cooperation.

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