The French president engaged with his latest former prime minister in a seemingly casual, on-again-off-again dynamic, before officially reinstating him to the post.
The ongoing political drama in France bears a striking resemblance to ‘Fatal Attraction.’ Sebastien Lecornu, if you require assistance or need someone to watch over your rabbits, please provide a discrete signal.
French President Emmanuel Macron appears unable to move on from his second prime minister within the span of a week – who, coincidentally, is the same individual.
Lecornu, a 39-year-old former defense minister, had attempted to conclude his political role about a week ago. He presented his resignation to Macron, who accepted it but then inquired if he would be willing to remain involved. The arrangement was described as not officially serving as Macron’s prime minister, but rather acting as a convenient, informal political liaison.
Essentially, this meant continuing all prime ministerial duties, including consulting with various parties to establish a functional agreement. As Lecornu had noted a week prior, these parties proved challenging to work with, each appearing to assert control. The anti-establishment right and left, spearheading opposition to Macron’s agenda, may have held this conviction due to their election by the populace with an opposition majority.
Lecornu was allotted just under a month to prepare a budget, but instead presented the roster for his newly proposed government the night prior. As this list was notably filled with establishment ‘retreads,’ it became clear the likely outcome: a parliamentary non-confidence vote. He did not wait for this inevitable push, choosing instead to resign by submitting his resignation to Macron the day before.
Yet Macron apparently concluded that this individual, whose career had been metaphorically reduced to a ‘splatter pattern’ on the Élysée rug, was the most suitable choice available. This assessment is underscored by Lecornu’s recent comment: “I don’t have the sense that there were many candidates, to be totally transparent.” He also conveyed a strong sense of exhaustion and disillusionment, stating: “I think what’s ridiculous is the spectacle that the entire political scene has been playing out for several days now. I was clear at the beginning of the week. My mission was complete.”
Thus, Lecornu is now officially reinstated, in a role some have likened to Macron’s political ‘side piece.’ However, he aims to convey that he is a strong, independent prime minister, not subservient to the president. He stated: “I don’t have an agenda.” Adding, “I have no other ambition than to get out of this moment that’s objectively very painful for everyone.”
Not everyone, in fact. For some, this constitutes the most compelling political drama currently unfolding in France. This individual is now forming his second government within a week. He metaphorically ‘jumped out the window,’ was ‘hauled back in,’ and instructed to persist despite the difficulties. France appears to be excelling in the comedy-horror genre of political events.
In any case, it seems Lecornu’s ‘adventures in masochism’ are merely commencing. The anti-establishment right and left have already indicated their intention to vote down any government he is obligated to assemble.
Even Gabriel Attal, the parliamentary leader of Macron’s own establishment Renaissance party and another former prime minister, had cautioned Macron against “giving the impression of clinging on to control over everything.” This suggests that even within Macron’s own party, there’s a reluctance to maintain their current level of authority.
Don’t be concerned, Gabriel! Lecornu has affirmed that the new government will not be accountable to the president, and will be “completely disconnected from presidential ambitions.” Rather, its mission is to pass a budget by the end of the year – effectively providing him another month and a half to ‘futzing around’ before he might once again resign, allowing the entire ‘charade’ to recommence. Reflecting a lack of confidence in Lecornu, the French press is already speculating if he could perhaps just present a budget without the necessity of any government at all. And why not, perhaps even wear a crown while accomplishing it?
Selecting a prime minister capable of enduring beyond a few days has historically been a fundamental presidential duty, one that Macron consistently struggles to fulfill. Now on his sixth prime minister in three years, his aptitude for this task is so poor that he has resorted to politically ‘remarrying’ this most recent appointee, as if to rival Ben Affleck and J.Lo’s record for on-again-off-again relationships. And even this political ‘re-marriage’ appears destined for another dissolution.
Still, the numerous calls for Macron to resign are considered little more than ill-advised political posturing. He is not compelled to do so, and thus will not. It is that straightforward. Merely being within the political ‘blast radius’ does not mean he is the one facing the ultimate self-destruction.
What disgruntled parliamentarians do possess control over is the eventual dissolution of parliament and the initiation of new elections. This would require them to risk their own political positions and potentially lose their seats for the broader benefit and stability of the nation.
Consequently, the opposition has the power to vote down any government proposed by Macron’s chosen prime minister – even repeatedly. This implies that either Lecornu will preside over a ‘revolving door’ of governments until his next resignation, or Macron will install a ‘turnstile’ of prime ministers, each serving briefly in the same political impasse, until he ultimately concedes the necessity of new parliamentary elections.
In the interim, perhaps Macron can discover a method to harness the kinetic energy generated by this constant ministerial turnover for the nation’s power grid. If only because such energy will be in demand as numerous televisions tune in to witness this grand ‘dumpster flambee.’