France's Prime Minister Steps Down After Barely Three Weeks Amidst Extensive Backlash of Freshly Appointed Government
France's government instability has deepened after the new prime minister suddenly stepped down within hours of announcing a cabinet.
Rapid Departure Amid Government Turmoil
Sébastien Lecornu was the third PM in a year-long span, as the nation continued to move from one political crisis to another. He resigned a short time before his initial ministerial gathering on Monday afternoon. France's leader accepted the prime minister's resignation on the start of the day.
Strong Opposition Regarding New Government
Lecornu had faced intense backlash from political opponents when he presented a recent administration that was virtually unchanged since last previous month's removal of his preceding leader, François Bayrou.
The presented administration was controlled by President Emmanuel Macron's political partners, leaving the cabinet mostly identical.
Opposition Criticism
Opposition parties said Lecornu had stepped back on the "major shift" with earlier approaches that he had pledged when he assumed office from the unfavored Bayrou, who was ousted on September 9th over a planned spending cuts.
Future Government Course
The question now is whether the national leader will decide to end the current assembly and call another early vote.
Jordan Bardella, the leader of the far-right leader's political movement, said: "There cannot be a reestablishment of order without a fresh vote and the legislature's dismissal."
He stated, "Obviously France's leader who decided this administration himself. He has misinterpreted of the current circumstances we are in."
Election Calls
The far-right party has pushed for another vote, believing they can increase their positions and role in the legislature.
The nation has gone through a period of turmoil and parliamentary deadlock since the president called an inconclusive snap election last year. The parliament remains divided between the main groups: the progressive side, the far right and the central bloc, with no definitive control.
Financial Pressure
A financial plan for next year must be agreed within a short time, even though political parties are at odds and Lecornu's tenure ended in barely three weeks.
No-Confidence Motion
Parties from the progressive side to conservative wing were to hold meetings on the start of the week to decide whether or not to approve to remove France's leader in a parliamentary motion, and it appeared that the administration would collapse before it had even begun operating. The prime minister seemingly decided to resign before he could be ousted.
Ministerial Positions
The majority of the key cabinet roles declared on the night before remained the same, including Gérald Darmanin as judicial department head and the culture minister as arts department head.
The position of financial affairs leader, which is vital as a split assembly struggles to approve a financial plan, went to a Macron ally, a government partner who had formerly acted as industry and energy minister at the start of Macron's second term.
Unexpected Appointment
In a surprise move, a longtime Macron ally, a government partner who had acted as financial affairs leader for seven years of his presidency, came back to government as national security leader. This angered politicians across the spectrum, who saw it as a signal that there would be no doubt or modification of the president's economic policies.