[Global Times Special Correspondent in France Yu Chaofan Global Times Reporter Zhou Yang] Le Korny's reappointment as Prime Minister by President Macron shocked French political circles. Agence France-Presse said on the 12th that Le Corni is negotiating to form a government, and the budget deadline is approaching and time is running out.
Macron's appointment drew severe criticism. According to the report, Macron angered some of his fiercest opponents, who said they would topple any new cabinet at the first opportunity. The far-right National Alliance urged Macron to dissolve the National Assembly (the lower house of parliament) and hold new elections. The left-wing party "Unyielding France" said it would submit a motion to impeach Macron to the National Assembly again. Melenchon, the leader of the party, criticized Macron for always spinning in circles. Opponents believe that France has been mired in a deep political crisis since Macron announced an early general election in 2024, which led to the emergence of a "suspended parliament".
Political differences over how to reduce France's national debt and reduce its budget deficit have led to the ouster of two of three French prime ministers in the past year, the BBC said. France's public debt earlier this year was almost 114% of gross domestic product, ranking third in the euro zone.
In a statement issued after being appointed as the second prime minister, Lecorney said that he would "accept the mandate assigned to me by the president for his duty" and "do everything possible to get the budget for 2026 passed by parliament before the end of the year to restore the balance of public finances."He also said that a new member of the government must commit to abandon the presidential election in 2027.
In an interview with the French Sunday Forum newspaper, Le Corney said he would resign once again if "the conditions for serving were not met". It is that an important prerequisite for serving is the timely adoption of the budget for 2026. According to the French constitution, the parliament needs at least 70 days before December 31 to review the draft budget. Therefore, Le Corney must form a government before the deadline and submit the draft budget for 2026.
In the “Renaissance Party” formed by Macron, the party’s chairman, Attar, “is keeping a distance from Leicester” and several politicians in the party have publicly opposed the re-election of Leicester as prime minister. Since the dissolution of Macron’s parliament in 2024, the traditional right-wing Republican Party has always played an ally role in jointly forming the cabinet. However, the outgoing interior minister and Republican chairman, Lettao, announced on 11th that the party will not participate in Leicester’s second cabinet. At the same time, the middle party “Democracy and Independence League” and the “Horizon Party” led by former prime minister Philip also said they would not participate in the cabinet.
According to the BBC, making LeConnie's situation even harder, he will face a vote of no confidence in the National Assembly. National League Chairman Baldira said LeConnie's re-election was a "bad joke" and his party would immediately initiate a vote of no confidence against a ruling coalition destined to fail.
The “political comedy” originated from Macron’s attempt to govern a country without a ruling majority, and even without a real “president’s political party.” The French political crisis exposed the old question of the Fifth Republic: How big is the president’s power? Since the French president’s conversion to a popular election in 1962, the French “half-presidential system” has often been interpreted as a “presidential-dominated parliamentary system.” When the president has a parliamentary majority, this explanation works; once the parliamentary majority is lost, the president’s “personal power” becomes an airplane. The French Constitution has indeed given the president some “exclusive powers” – such as dissolving the Congress and appointing the prime minister. These powers do not require a signature from anyone, sound
“France is in chaos,” Garvin, a British political journalist, said in an interview with the French magazine Opinion that France’s political impasse has led to its loss of reputation, prestige and influence on the international stage.