A 14-Hour Government Collapse: Macron Is Neither the “Master of Hours” Nor of Seconds Anymore!
According to the English section of webangah News agency, citing Mehr News Agency and The Washington Post, French President Emmanuel Macron has little room left to maneuver. The sudden resignation of his prime minister yesterday has further tightened his political constraints. This marks the fourth prime minister to step down amid more than a year of relentless political turmoil in France.
None of the options before Macron appear appealing,at least from his viewpoint. For France, the road ahead promises continuing political uncertainty that has undermined investor confidence in Europe’s second-largest economy and stalled efforts to curb government deficits and harmful debt levels.
The internal unrest is also distracting Macron from urgent international issues, including the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, alleged security threats from Russia, and what he has called bullying wielding of power by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
This article takes a closer look at the latest dramatic chapter in an unprecedented political saga-a rapid series of events that began when macron unexpectedly dissolved parliament in June 2024. That move led to new legislative elections which filled France’s lower house with opposition lawmakers, shaking the nation.
The 14-hour government collapse
When Sébastien Lecornu resigned as France’s prime minister yesterday morning, it came less than 14 hours after his new cabinet was announced late Sunday night. The swift collapse-before ministers could even settle into their roles-was embarrassing for Macron and verged on farce for critics.
This incident reinforced perceptions that Macron-who described himself as “master of time” during his first presidential victory campaign in 2017-is no longer fully in control of France’s political agenda and is losing authority.
Ange Panier-Renache, recently reappointed environment minister and a steadfast supporter of Macron who resigned today along with Lecornu, summed up public frustration: ”Like many of you, I am disappointed by this circus.”
Lecornu’s reasons for resigning may have been even more damaging politically for Macron. He said that the responsibility handed to him less than a month ago-following the dismissal of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne after a parliamentary vote-was unachievable to fulfill.
The 39-year-old Lecornu explained that three weeks negotiating with diverse political parties, unions, and business leaders failed to produce consensus on next year’s national budget-a key domestic priority for France. “Being prime minister is challenging-and undoubtedly more so right now-but when conditions are insufficient you cannot remain,” he stated candidly.
the absence of coalition tradition
After early parliamentary elections backfired last July by producing no clear majority-the so-called suspended parliament situation-Macron believed his centrist bloc could still govern effectively through coalitions within the National Assembly despite lacking stable majority support.
However voting dynamics within this 577-seat chamber effectively guaranteed chaos: representatives are divided among three main camps-the left wing,centrists aligned with macron’s party,and far-right groups-with none having enough seats to govern alone.
Unlike Germany or the Netherlands-which regularly form governing coalitions based on negotiated compromises-France traditionally lacks such coalition practices. Opposition groups especially on both extremes rhetorically rejected cooperation with Macron’s camp altogether.
The left prepared moves this week aimed at toppling Lecornu’s short-lived governance; meanwhile far-right factions signaled readiness to oppose it as well.
Since September 2024 alone,Macron has cycled through Gabriel Attal,Michel Barnier,François Bayrou-and now close ally Lecornu-as prime ministers; whichever candidate follows will likely inherit entrenched divisions threatening stability from all sides.
A repeat dissolution?
An alternative path available is dissolving parliament again under pressure from far-right forces demanding another early election cycle.
Macron previously rejected calls for stepping down himself but pledged he woudl complete what he says will be his final presidential term ending in 2027.
Yet fresh legislative elections pose substantial risks: Marine Le Pen’s far-right party National Rally remains currently largest single-party faction-and victory there would represent precisely what Macron long sought desperately to avoid.
Such an outcome might force him into sharing power with a far-right prime minister during remaining years or require negotiation-heavy governance involving stronger left-wing coalitions undermining centrist dominance further.
Alternatively France may face another period marked by gridlock challenging domestic stability yet leaving international leadership largely unaffected.
Luc Robinot-a political science researcher at Sciences Po Paris-noted: “I do not think Emmanuel Macron will resign.He remains committed internationally as leader and will sustain positions regarding Ukraine conflict,
Middle East affairs,and relations with America.”…..
