Macron’s Crisis... The Rise of Far-Right Le Pen

Lecornu Resigns After Just 27 Days as Prime Minister
Sixth Prime Minister Appointed in Less Than Two Years
Speculation Grows Over Suspension of Macron's Pension Reform

The recent turmoil over the "appointment of a new prime minister within 48 hours" is seen as exposing the structural crisis of France's political system and the limitations of the Emmanuel Macron administration. A series of prime ministerial resignations and stalled negotiations over the austerity budget have created an opening for the far-right party to rapidly gain ground. There are also concerns that even President Macron's pension reform initiative may be halted.

Reuters Yonhap News

The ?lys?e Palace announced on October 8 (local time) that President Macron would appoint a new prime minister within 48 hours. This followed the resignation of former Prime Minister S?bastien Lecornu just 27 days after taking office. He was the fifth prime minister of Macron's second administration, which began in 2022, and with his resignation, the administration will see its sixth prime minister in less than two years. Previously, former Prime Minister Fran?ois Bayrou lost his position following a failed parliamentary no-confidence vote in September.

This political division in France stems from the composition of the parliament. President Macron dissolved the National Assembly in June 2024 and called for early general elections, but the left-wing coalition, the far-right National Rally (RN), and the centrist-right coalition led by the president all secured similar numbers of seats, leaving none with a majority. As a result, many now consider the French parliament to be effectively in a state of a hung parliament, unable to govern.

Following former Prime Minister Lecornu's resignation, opposition voices have grown louder, demanding early general elections and President Macron's resignation. Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally, declared, "We will oppose any prime minister appointed by Macron. Early general elections must be held again."

Mathilde Panot, floor leader of the far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party, stated, "The only solution is for President Macron to resign and leave office."

The Guardian reported, "Lecornu's (resignation) decision left President Macron with few options," adding, "He could either call early general elections, resign the presidency, or find a new prime minister."

Among these three options, President Macron chose to nominate a new prime minister. He ignored the opposition's demands for dissolving the parliament, resigning the presidency, or calling early elections, and instead opted to maintain his administration. This decision appears to be based on the assessment that early general elections could lead to the far-right taking power. According to Reuters, recent polls show the National Rally leading with about 35% support.

Some observers suggest that the political standing of the National Rally could be further strengthened despite President Macron's efforts to keep them in check. The Financial Times analyzed that the only beneficiaries of France's political chaos, marked by repeated cabinet collapses and prime ministerial changes, are Le Pen and the National Rally. Reuters also noted, "The National Rally sees the dissolution of parliament as a golden opportunity to finally take power, absorbing public discontent with centrist politics and the established political order."

There are also predictions that even President Macron's flagship pension reform could be halted. The law, which gradually raises the retirement age from 62 to 64, was passed in 2023 after lengthy debate. The Wall Street Journal reported, "Left-leaning parties are demanding that President Macron halt his landmark pension reform as a condition for their support."