Chaos in France as Macron reappoint Lecornu days after he quit | DW News

Key Concepts Sebastian Lecornu, Emmanuel Macron, Hung Parliament, Snap Elections (Legislative, Presidential), Fifth Republic, Vote of No Confidence, Pay-as-you-go Pension System, Political Infighting, Consensus Culture, Pension Reform, 2026 Budget.

Reappointment of Sebastian Lecornu and Immediate Challenges

French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sebastian Lecornu as Prime Minister, just days after Lecornu resigned due to political infighting. This decision comes amidst significant opposition criticism, with parties calling for snap elections and Macron's resignation. Lecornu faces the immediate and critical task of forming a new government and presenting a 2026 budget to a hung parliament by Monday. The political instability is exacerbated by France's soaring debt, an issue that has previously led to the downfall of two of Macron's predecessors.

Macron's Strategic Dilemma and Lack of Alternatives

Macron's decision to reappoint Lecornu, despite previous failures, is seen by some as a gamble, hoping that "chaos will be less acceptable than yet another prime minister" or that political "exhaustion" will set in. This choice is widely questioned in France, as Lecornu is the third Prime Minister under Macron who has struggled to fulfill his mandate.

A key reason for this reappointment is Macron's difficulty in finding suitable candidates within his coalition. He lacks a true "left-winger," only having "left of center" individuals, some of whom have already called for his resignation—a significant act in France's "Fifth Republic" system. This sentiment is underscored by the fact that two of his former Prime Ministers, Édouard Philippe (his first, a central-right politician) and Gabriel Attal (his second to last), have both publicly called for Macron's resignation. Furthermore, the major French news magazine L'Obs (compared to Germany's Drapier) has published "Mulot and dignity," signaling an unprecedented level of political turmoil. Macron faces a combination of not trusting most potential candidates and knowing that those he might trust, including Lecornu, risk being "overset politically in the house by a vote of no confidence in a few days."

Consequences of Failure and Potential Elections

Sebastian Lecornu's immediate mandate is to appoint a government this weekend and submit the 2026 budget bill by Monday. Should he fail, the political situation would make it "very difficult not to hold a snap election." Macron, however, is in a precarious position regarding snap elections:

• He previously called a "totally unwarranted" snap election "a little over a year ago almost a year and a half ago" when he still commanded a clear coalition majority, a possibility he no longer possesses.
• A legislative election (for parliament) would likely result in a similar parliamentary composition but with "more MPs on the hard right."
• A presidential election is an option Macron "really does not want to do" as it would be an "admission of failure." The next presidential election, in which he cannot run again, is in 2027, and there is a distinct possibility of a "natural right president" emerging.

The Budget, Pension Reform, and the Absence of Consensus

The difficulty in reaching a consensus, particularly on the 2026 budget, stems from "irreconcilable differences" and a fundamental lack of a "culture of consensus in France." The pension reform is a prime example:

• The left and a "large swathe of left" vehemently oppose current reforms, which propose working from age 62 to 64 (still early by European averages).
• The left advocates for a return to the age of 60, as it was changed from 65 in 1981.
• This intransigence persists despite France's "pay-as-you-go system" being "completely bankrupt," with voters demanding "unconceivable" concessions.

The political landscape is further complicated by widespread "grandstanding," where politicians prioritize public approval over compromise, making it "very difficult to get somewhere." This was evident when former Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne supported suspending the very pension reform she had painstakingly passed, eventually losing a vote of no confidence over it, highlighting the deep divisions and lack of a "can-do" culture in French politics.

Conclusion

France is currently mired in a profound political crisis characterized by a hung parliament, deep ideological divisions, and a notable absence of a consensus-building culture. President Macron's reappointment of Sebastian Lecornu underscores the limited viable options available to him and the high stakes involved in navigating the country's governance. The inability to agree on critical issues like the 2026 budget and pension reform, exacerbated by a "bankrupt" "pay-as-you-go system" and political "grandstanding," creates an environment of paralysis. Failure to pass the budget could trigger snap elections, potentially leading to a further shift towards the hard right in the legislature or even a right-wing presidency in 2027, signaling a significant admission of failure for Macron.