Under President Emmanuel Macron, France has just set a sad record: Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government lasted less than a day. Announced on the evening of October 5, it collapsed within hours amid fierce criticism, forcing Lecornu to resign in the early hours of October 6.
The European Conservative -- Nearly a month had passed since Lecornu was appointed to replace François Bayrou, ousted after a no-confidence vote, yet France remained without a functioning government during that time. When Lecornu finally unveiled his cabinet, it was instantly condemned as a “provocation” and a “pathetic lineup.”
The outrage was predictable. Despite pledging a “break with the past,” Lecornu recycled 12 of 18 ministers from the previous administration. His few “new” faces were also tainted figures, like former finance minister Bruno Le Maire—widely blamed for deepening the public deficit.
Even Lecornu’s own allies turned against him. Les Républicains leader Gérard Retailleau, reappointed as interior minister, called for an emergency party meeting to reconsider their support. Sensing his government’s collapse before it began, Lecornu admitted, “You can’t be prime minister when the conditions aren’t right,” and resigned. Macron accepted immediately.