France's Political Crisis Worsens, What Will Happen Next?

French PM Sebastien Lecornu/PHOTO via Instagram @selecornu

JAKARTA - France's new prime minister, Sebastien Lecornu, decided to resign on Monday, hours after Lecornu announced the composition of its cabinet.

This further worsened the French political crisis which caused stocks and euros to decline sharply.

This rapid and unexpected resignation came after allies and opponents threatened to overthrow the new government. Lecornu said it meant he could not carry out his duties.

Opposition parties immediately urged President Emmanuel Macron to resign, or hold an impromptu parliamentary election, saying there was no other way out of this crisis.

Lecornu, Macron's fifth prime minister in two years, has only served 27 days. His government only lasted 14 hours, making it the shortest government in modern French history, when parliament is very divided and the second-largest economy in the euro zone is struggling to fix its finances.

Diulas Reuters, Monday, October 6, French politics has become increasingly unstable since Macron's re-elect in 2022 because no party or group has held a parliamentary majority.

Macron's decision to hold an impromptu parliamentary election last year deepened the crisis by resulting in an increasingly fragmented parliament.

The centrally litigated president can now hold a new impromptu general election, resign, or try to appoint a new prime minister.

In recent months, Macron, whose term ends in May 2027, has repeatedly rejected the first two options. He has not publicly reacted to Lecornu's resignation.

BFM TV broadcast footage of Macron walking on the banks of the Seene River, looking alone.

In the opposition camp, many rushed to ask Macron to hold a parliamentary election quickly or resign.

"The Macron must now choose: disbandment or resignation, and speedy!" exclaimed the extreme right-handed National Rally (RN) on X.

"This joke has been around for a long time, this joke must end," said RN leader Marine Le Pen.

Mathilde Panot, from France Unbowed's extreme left camp, said: "Lecornu is stepping down. 3 Prime Ministers lost in less than a year. Countdowns have started. Macron must step down."

David Lisnard, from the conservative Republican camp, is also among those urging Macron to step down.

To explain why he was unable to come forward and come into compromise with rival parties, Lecornu blamed the opposition politicians' "ego" for sticking to their manifesto.

While those who are in their minority coalition focus on their own presidential ambitions.

"You must always prioritize the state over your party," he said in a brief speech after his resignation.

After weeks of consultation with various political parties, Lecornu, Macron's close ally, appointed its ministers on Sunday and they are scheduled to hold their first meeting on Monday afternoon.

However, the composition of the new cabinet has angered both opponents and allies, who consider it too right-handed or inappropriate, raising questions about how long this will last.

Lecornu handed over his resignation to Macron, who accepted him.