Political instabilities in France: Why Emmanuel Macron is unable to keep a Prime Minister'
On the 12th of October 2025, Lecornu’s resignation as Emmanuel Macron’s seventh Prime Minister, the President nominated him again to the same position. While the humour of the situation is not lost, this moment reflects a deeper institutional crisis facing France. There have been eight governments in Macron’s eight years in power; how does this highlight his falling popularity, and how does this indicate how unstable France’s politics currently are?
The Structure of the French Government
Every five years, French citizens elect their President through a two-round voting system. The first round typically involves a dozen candidates, and if no one wins an absolute majority (more than half of all votes), the two leading candidates proceed to a final vote. In both 2017 and 2022, this resulted in a contest between Emmanuel Macron, representing the liberal-centrist bloc, and Marine Le Pen of the far-right Rassemblement National (RN). Though Macron won both elections, this does not grant him full governing power. After the presidential elections, legislative elections determine the composition of the National Assembly, which can either support or block the government’s ability to pass legislations.
In 2022, Macron’s coalition secured a legislative majority. However, his first Prime Minister of his second term, Élisabeth Borne, received heavy criticism for her repeated use of Article 49.3 of the Constitution. Generally reserved for crisis situations, the article allows the government to pass legislation without a parliamentary vote. Borne invoked the article 23 times in just a year and seven months. This was widely seen as an abuse of democratic process and contributed to public and institutional anger, leading to her resignation in early 2024.
Rising Polarisation and Legislative Deadlock
Borne’s successor, Gabriel Attal, the youngest Prime Minister of the Fifth Republic, did not enjoy widespread support and took office at a moment of increasing political polarisation. The far-right RN, argued by some to be a repackaged version of the far-right and fascist Front National, continued to gain support. Simultaneously the left-wing coalition led by La France Insoumise (LFI) also grew in popularity. Macron’s centrist position was increasingly losing support. In response, Macron dissolved the National Assembly on 9 June 2024 and called for new legislative elections, hoping to restore a stable majority.
The election results, however, confirmed France’s deep political division. The left-wing coalition won the largest number of seats, followed by the centrist alliance, while the RN emerged as the single most-voted party. Instead of nominating a Prime Minister from either the left or the far-right, Macron appointed Michel Barnier from the right-leaning and unpopular party Les Républicains. For many, this decision highlighted Macron’s blatant disregard for democracy. Barnier’s government lasted only three months before the Chamber of Deputies relieved him from his duties through a vote of no confidence, the first successful once since 1962.
However, Macron continued to disregard public and institutional disillusionment and appointed François Bayrou in December 2024 as Barnier’s successor. Bayrou faced a political crisis when allegations resurfaced that he had previously covered-up sexual assault cases during his tenure as Minister of Education. Instead of stepping down as PM and tainting the government’s reputation further, Bayrou remained in office for several months, only resigning in September 2025 after losing a confidence vote.
Rising Tension and the Lecornu Episode
Refusing to collaborate with the RN or with the left, Sébastien Lecornu, one of Macron’s few remaining allies, was then nominated Prime Minister. Yet, he resigned the day following the announcement of his government, after only three weeks into his new role. The reason behind this was that Lecornu was not given the autonomy to form a new government, as the same long-standing ministers were being reappointed time and again. Moreover, Lecornu publicly refused to rely on Article 49.3 to pass legislation, rejecting the very tool that had previously destabilised the government and angered the public.
After a week of uncertainty, Macron renominated him, and Lecornu accepted, framing the decision as an act of responsibility and duty.
A Government in Stalemate
Currently, Lecornu is openly opposing Macron’s pension reform, aligning himself with both the Assembly and public sentiment. Parliamentary sessions have become increasingly vague and tense, and deputies across the political spectrum have expressed confusion about what direction the government is taking.
There is one clear conclusion to be drawn from this situation: Sébastien Lecornu has become the voice of the frustrations held by the Assembly and by the French people. His stance signals a growing recognition that Macron is disregarding democratic decisions, parliamentary representation, and the balance of the French government.
One might wonder how long Lecornu’s second term as Prime Minister will last. France’s political stalemate is undeniably worrying. Yet, Lecornu’s refusal to submit to presidential control may represent a renewed sense of democratic accountability for the Fifth Republic.
Image courtesy of Stephane Mahe via Reuters, ©2020. Some rights reserved.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the wider St. Andrews Foreign Affairs Review team.
