Sébastien Lecornu was recently appointed as France’s Prime Minister, a move seen as pivotal by President Emmanuel Macron. Lecornu, who is 39 years old and viewed as a loyal protégé of Macron, was expected to navigate a coalition of parties and stabilize the political landscape. However, his tenure has been notably short, lasting only 14 hours after he announced his cabinet.
The immediate cause for this swift conclusion was the reaction from the conservative Republicans (LR) party and its leader, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau. The LR holds around 40 seats and is critical to forming a center-right coalition in France. Although Retailleau initially expressed willingness to remain in government, his position shifted dramatically shortly after the cabinet announcement, indicating that LR might not participate at all.
Officially, the issue stemmed from Lecornu’s appointment of former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire to the defense portfolio. Le Maire, previously an LR member, has been contentious among party members due to his alignment with Macron and criticisms regarding French debt during his time in office. Retailleau reportedly learned of Le Maire’s nomination through media coverage, suggesting a communication breakdown within the formation process.
Subsequently, Le Maire chose not to take a ministerial role, and Macron granted Lecornu an additional 48 hours in an attempt to persuade LR to join the government. This situation underscores a dwindling time frame as France approaches the 2027 presidential election, raising questions about the stability and future viability of the current government and coalition efforts.
As dissent grows within the center-right coalition, it highlights the challenges of maintaining a united front as individual parties reassess their alignment with Macron, raising concerns about potential instability in the political landscape.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c749k11vnzgo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss