The French Premier Steps Down Following Under One Month Amid Broad Backlash of New Cabinet
France's political turmoil has intensified after the new prime minister suddenly stepped down within hours of appointing a administration.
Quick Exit During Political Turmoil
SĂ©bastien Lecornu was the third French prime minister in a year-long span, as the nation continued to stumble from one parliamentary instability to another. He resigned moments before his initial ministerial gathering on the beginning of the workweek. The president approved his resignation on the start of the day.
Intense Criticism Over New Government
France's leader had faced intense backlash from rival parties when he revealed a recent administration that was mostly identical since last recent removal of his predecessor, the previous prime minister.
The announced cabinet was dominated by the president's allies, leaving the administration largely similar.
Political Response
Political opponents said Lecornu had reversed on the "major shift" with previous policies that he had promised when he came to power from the unpopular former PM, who was ousted on 9 September over a planned spending cuts.
Future Political Course
The uncertainty now is whether the head of state will decide to end the current assembly and call another sudden poll.
Jordan Bardella, the head of the far-right leader's opposition group, said: "There cannot be a return to stability without a return to the ballot box and the national assembly being dissolved."
He continued, "It was very clearly the president who chose this administration himself. He has misinterpreted of the present conditions we are in."
Election Demands
The opposition movement has advocated for another vote, believing they can boost their representation and presence in the assembly.
France has gone through a phase of instability and political crisis since the centrist Macron called an unclear early vote last year. The legislature remains separated between the three blocs: the progressive side, the conservative wing and the central bloc, with no definitive control.
Financial Pressure
A financial plan for next year must be passed within a short time, even though parliamentary groups are at loggerheads and the prime minister's term ended in less than a month.
Opposition Motion
Parties from the left to far right were to hold meetings on the start of the week to decide whether or not to vote to dismiss the prime minister in a opposition challenge, and it looked that the administration would fail before it had even started work. France's leader apparently decided to resign before he could be dismissed.
Ministerial Positions
Most of the key cabinet roles announced on Sunday night remained the identical, including GĂ©rald Darmanin as justice minister and the culture minister as culture minister.
The position of economy minister, which is crucial as a split assembly struggles to agree on a financial plan, went to a Macron ally, a presidential supporter who had earlier worked as industry and energy minister at the beginning of the president's latest mandate.
Unexpected Appointment
In a surprise move, a longtime Macron ally, a government partner who had worked as economy minister for seven years of his presidency, was reappointed to cabinet as national security leader. This enraged politicians across the various parties, who saw it as a indication that there would be no challenging or change of his corporate-friendly approach.
