The French Premier Resigns After Barely Three Weeks Amidst Widespread Criticism of Freshly Appointed Government
France's political crisis has deepened after the new prime minister unexpectedly quit within a short time of appointing a cabinet.
Rapid Resignation Amid Government Turmoil
SĂ©bastien Lecornu was the third PM in a single year, as the country continued to stumble from one political crisis to another. He quit a short time before his opening government session on the beginning of the workweek. The president received the prime minister's resignation on the beginning of Monday.
Strong Criticism Over New Cabinet
The prime minister had faced strong opposition from opposition politicians when he presented a new government that was mostly identical since last month's dismissal of his preceding leader, the previous prime minister.
The announced cabinet was dominated by the president's political partners, leaving the administration largely similar.
Opposition Reaction
Rival groups said Lecornu had backtracked on the "major shift" with past politics that he had promised when he assumed office from the unfavored Bayrou, who was dismissed on September 9th over a proposed budget squeeze.
Future Political Course
The issue now is whether the president will decide to terminate the legislature and call another sudden poll.
Jordan Bardella, the head of Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally party, said: "There cannot be a reestablishment of order without a return to the ballot box and the parliament's termination."
He added, "It was very clearly the president who decided this cabinet himself. He has understood nothing of the political situation we are in."
Vote Demands
The National Rally has advocated for another poll, believing they can boost their representation and influence in the legislature.
France has gone through a time of uncertainty and political crisis since the president called an unclear early vote last year. The assembly remains separated between the political factions: the liberal wing, the far right and the centre, with no definitive control.
Financial Deadline
A spending package for next year must be approved within weeks, even though government factions are at odds and Lecornu's tenure ended in under four weeks.
No-Confidence Motion
Political groups from the left to conservative wing were to hold meetings on Monday to decide whether or not to support to dismiss France's leader in a parliamentary motion, and it appeared that the administration would fail before it had even commenced functioning. Lecornu seemingly decided to leave before he could be removed.
Cabinet Appointments
Nearly all of the key cabinet roles declared on the previous evening remained the same, including the legal affairs head as judicial department head and arts and heritage leader as cultural affairs leader.
The position of financial affairs leader, which is essential as a fragmented legislature struggles to approve a financial plan, went to a Macron ally, a presidential supporter who had formerly acted as economic sector leader at the commencement of Macron's second term.
Unexpected Appointment
In a surprise move, a longtime Macron ally, a government partner who had acted as economy minister for seven years of his presidency, came back to government as defence minister. This angered leaders across the political divide, who considered it a signal that there would be no doubt or modification of his corporate-friendly approach.
