The French Prime Minister Quits After Less Than a Month Amid Extensive Criticism of Freshly Appointed Ministers
France's political crisis has intensified after the new prime minister dramatically resigned within hours of announcing a administration.
Rapid Departure Amid Government Turmoil
Sébastien Lecornu was the third PM in a year-long span, as the republic continued to move from one government turmoil to another. He stepped down moments before his first cabinet meeting on Monday afternoon. Macron received the prime minister's resignation on the beginning of Monday.
Strong Opposition Regarding Fresh Cabinet
The prime minister had faced strong opposition from political opponents when he announced a fresh cabinet that was largely similar since last previous month's removal of his former PM, François Bayrou.
The proposed new government was led by the president's allies, leaving the government largely similar.
Opposition Response
Political opponents said the prime minister had reversed on the "major shift" with past politics that he had pledged when he came to power from the disliked Bayrou, who was dismissed on September 9th over a suggested financial restrictions.
Future Political Course
The uncertainty now is whether the president will decide to dissolve parliament and call another snap election.
The National Rally president, the leader of the opposition figure's far-right National Rally party, said: "It's impossible to have a return to stability without a return to the ballot box and the national assembly being dissolved."
He added, "Obviously the president who determined this government himself. He has misinterpreted of the political situation we are in."
Election Demands
The National Rally has demanded another election, confident they can boost their seats and role in parliament.
France has gone through a period of uncertainty and parliamentary deadlock since the national leader called an unclear early vote last year. The legislature remains split between the three blocs: the left, the far right and the moderate faction, with no clear majority.
Budget Pressure
A budget for next year must be passed within a short time, even though parliamentary groups are at disagreement and Lecornu's tenure ended in less than a month.
No-Confidence Vote
Parties from the left to far right were to hold gatherings on Monday to decide whether or not to support to oust Lecornu in a opposition challenge, and it appeared that the government would fail before it had even started work. The prime minister apparently decided to step down before he could be removed.
Cabinet Appointments
Nearly all of the major ministerial positions declared on the previous evening remained the identical, including Gérald Darmanin as judicial department head and Rachida Dati as cultural affairs leader.
The position of economic policy head, which is vital as a split assembly struggles to agree on a spending package, went to the president's supporter, a Macron ally who had formerly acted as industry and energy minister at the beginning of his current leadership period.
Surprise Selection
In a unexpected decision, the president's political partner, a government partner who had worked as financial affairs leader for multiple terms of his presidency, came back to cabinet as military affairs head. This infuriated leaders across the political divide, who viewed it as a signal that there would be no questioning or change of his corporate-friendly approach.