The French opposition is claiming a major victory after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned, a move that followed their swift and total rejection of his new cabinet. Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure’s declaration that the government had “no legitimacy left” proved to be a prophetic summary of its fate, as it collapsed under the weight of unified political condemnation.
The crisis began moments after Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, announced his team on Sunday. Opposition parties, from the left to the right, immediately attacked the cabinet as a stale and unimaginative lineup that offered no hope for breaking the country’s political and economic deadlock. They successfully framed the government as illegitimate before it could even hold its first meeting.
This unified front from the opposition was critical in forcing the resignation. In a parliament where Macron lacks a clear majority, the ability of opposition parties to unite against his agenda is a powerful weapon. By immediately branding the cabinet as illegitimate, they created a narrative of a government that was doomed from the start, making Lecornu’s position impossible.
Faure’s comments that Macron’s political group is “imploding” captured the essence of the crisis. It suggests that the problem runs deeper than a single cabinet appointment and points to a fundamental weakness in the President’s ability to govern. The opposition’s message is clear: without a genuine attempt at power-sharing and compromise, no government appointed by Macron can survive.
The resignation serves as a stark reminder of the power dynamics in French politics today. While Macron holds the presidency, the legislative chamber holds the power to paralyze his government. This dynamic has already brought down two previous prime ministers over spending plans and has now claimed a third, plunging France deeper into a crisis of governance.