Like a well-worn boot losing its sole, the French government continues to come apart at the seams. The resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu after a mere 26 days in office has left the nation’s political establishment reeling and ordinary citizens wondering who’s minding the store.
As we say back in Texas, this situation has more twists than a barrel of rattlesnakes. Just hours after stepping down, Lecornu found himself back at the bargaining table, tasked by President Emmanuel Macron to craft a “stability plan” by Wednesday evening. If that sounds like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg, you might be right.
The political turmoil sent tremors through the Paris stock exchange, with investors voting with their feet as shares took a nosedive. It’s worth noting that this marks the third prime minister to pack up their office since last December, a revolving door that would make even the most seasoned political observer dizzy.
The heart of the matter lies in Lecornu’s cabinet choices, which went over about as well as a screen door on a submarine with the National Assembly. The appointment of Bruno Le Maire as minister of armed forces proved particularly contentious, leading to his withdrawal later Monday in what some might call a tactical retreat to save the broader government.
Looking back to connect the dots, this latest crisis is part of a longer story. François Bayrou’s government fell when parliament rejected his budget, and before him, Michel Barnier was shown the door last December. The root of this instability can be traced to July 2024, when President Macron rolled the dice on snap parliamentary elections, hoping to secure a clear majority – a gamble that clearly hasn’t paid off.
For those keeping score at home, France now finds itself in a precarious position. The nation that gave us the term “bureaucracy” is struggling to keep its governmental machinery running smoothly. As one veteran observer noted, “In politics, as in life, sometimes you have to know when to hold ’em and when to fold ’em.” Right now, it seems the French political deck is being thoroughly shuffled.
The next 48 hours will be crucial as Lecornu attempts to broker a deal that might bring some semblance of stability to a nation that’s seen more political drama than a season of House of Cards. Whether he can pull a rabbit out of this particular hat remains to be seen, but one thing’s certain – the eyes of Europe and the world are watching this unfolding drama with keen interest.
