France's Premier Quits After Less Than a Month Amid Broad Condemnation of New Government
France's political crisis has intensified after the new prime minister dramatically resigned within hours of forming a government.
Quick Exit Amid Government Turmoil
France's latest leader was the third French prime minister in a year-long span, as the nation continued to move from one political crisis to another. He quit hours before his first cabinet meeting on the beginning of the workweek. The president received the prime minister's resignation on Monday morning.
Intense Backlash Over New Government
Lecornu had faced strong opposition from opposition politicians when he announced a fresh cabinet that was mostly identical since last recent removal of his predecessor, his predecessor.
The announced cabinet was dominated by the president's political partners, leaving the government mostly identical.
Political Response
Political opponents said the prime minister had stepped back on the "profound break" with previous policies that he had vowed when he came to power from the unfavored former PM, who was removed on 9 September over a proposed budget squeeze.
Future Political Course
The issue now is whether the national leader will decide to dissolve parliament and call another sudden poll.
The National Rally president, the president of the opposition figure's political movement, said: "It's impossible to have a return to stability without a fresh vote and the legislature's dismissal."
He added, "Obviously Emmanuel Macron who decided this government himself. He has understood nothing of the current circumstances we are in."
Vote Demands
The far-right party has demanded another election, confident they can increase their positions and presence in parliament.
France has gone through a phase of instability and political crisis since the president called an unclear early vote last year. The assembly remains separated between the three blocs: the left, the far right and the central bloc, with no absolute dominance.
Financial Deadline
A budget for next year must be agreed within a short time, even though political parties are at disagreement and Lecornu's tenure ended in under four weeks.
Opposition Motion
Political groups from the progressive side to far right were to hold meetings on Monday to decide whether or not to approve to remove the prime minister in a parliamentary motion, and it looked that the cabinet would fail before it had even begun operating. Lecornu seemingly decided to leave before he could be ousted.
Cabinet Positions
The majority of the key cabinet roles declared on the night before remained the unchanged, including Gérald Darmanin as judicial department head and Rachida Dati as culture minister.
The position of economic policy head, which is vital as a fragmented legislature struggles to pass a financial plan, went to Roland Lescure, a government partner who had formerly acted as business and power head at the start of his current leadership period.
Surprise Appointment
In a unexpected decision, the president's political partner, a Macron ally who had served as economy minister for seven years of his leadership, returned to administration as national security leader. This angered politicians across the various parties, who saw it as a signal that there would be no challenging or modification of his corporate-friendly approach.