France has witnessed unprecedented political instability in the past two years, with five different prime ministers holding office since 2024. The latest resignation of Sébastien Lecornu, just 14 hours after unveiling his new cabinet, highlights the fragility of President Emmanuel Macron’s domestic governance.
Lecornu quits hours after cabinet shake-up
Lecornu’s abrupt resignation came less than a month after he was appointed prime minister, following the ousting of his predecessor by a vote in the National Assembly. He explained that weeks of negotiations with parties across the political spectrum, unions, and business leaders had failed to build consensus on next year’s budget — France’s top domestic priority.
“Being prime minister is a difficult task, doubtless even a bit harder at the moment, but one cannot be prime minister when the conditions aren't fulfilled,” Lecornu said. His departure left ministers out of office before they had even settled into their roles, further undermining the perception of Macron’s control over domestic affairs.
France’s semi-presidential system
France operates under a semi-presidential system, where the president manages foreign policy and defence, while the prime minister handles domestic governance. The president appoints the prime minister, but the parliament must approve the choice. Political science researcher Luc Rouban notes that despite the turmoil, Macron is unlikely to resign: “The central institution remains the president of the Republic ... he remains the leader on international affairs.”
Hung Parliament fuels French instability
The root of the instability lies in the composition of France’s National Assembly following snap legislative elections in June 2024. Macron’s centrist party failed to secure a majority, leaving the 577-seat chamber divided among three main blocs: left, centre, and far-right. Unlike countries such as Germany or the Netherlands, France does not have a tradition of coalition governments, making it difficult to build stable alliances.
Macron’s political opponents, particularly on the far-left and far-right have repeatedly united against his prime ministers despite ideological differences. This has contributed to a rapid turnover of PMs, including Gabriel Attal, Michel Barnier, François Bayrou, and now Sébastien Lecornu.
What’s next?
Macron faces limited options. He could appoint another prime minister to a minority government, risking another short-lived administration. Alternatively, he could dissolve parliament and call new elections, though this is fraught with risk. The far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen, could gain further influence, and Macron’s centrist camp may suffer heavier losses.
If no decisive outcome emerges, France could continue to experience political deadlock, with minority governments struggling to govern effectively. Macron, however, has vowed to complete his second and final presidential term in 2027, leaving him determined to navigate the crisis without stepping down.
The rapid succession of prime ministers in France reflects deeper structural and political challenges: a fragmented parliament, absence of coalition governance tradition, and strong opposition from both ends of the political spectrum. For Macron, the key task remains balancing domestic governance amid an unstable parliament while maintaining his leadership on international affairs.
(Inputs from agencies)
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