France | Lecornu’s resignation puts pressure on Macron – the “lame duck”faces escalating political crisis

Western media outlets have described French President Emmanuel Macron as a “lame duck” following the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, just hours after the announcement of the new government.

The British newspaper The Times noted that, in theory, Macron retains extensive powers under the Fifth Republic’s constitution, which came into effect 67 years ago. In practice, however, he struggles to impose his policies on a fragmented parliament, rendering him a “lame duck” as his term approaches its scheduled end in 2027.

British and French newspapers, including The Telegraph, Le Monde, and Libération, reported that Macron’s efforts to reform the pension system and reduce public spending have largely failed, leading to the resignation of two governments within a short period. Bloomberg added that the president’s political position is increasingly weakened, amid calls from opponents for the dissolution of the National Assembly and his resignation.

Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, only hours after forming his new cabinet, which faced criticism from both opposition and allied politicians due to its political orientation differing from expectations. These developments unfold amid a deepening political crisis in France, characterized by a divided parliament and the absence of a clear majority.

France ranks third in the European Union in terms of public debt (115% of GDP), with a budget deficit exceeding 6%, raising economic concerns and a potential crisis of confidence in the markets.

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