Ongoing Government Instability: France’s political crisis, stemming from the 2024 hung parliament, intensified as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned on October 6 after just 27 days in office, marking the shortest government in Fifth Republic history and the fourth PM change in under two years.
Lecornu’s Brief Resignation and Reappointment: Hours after forming his cabinet on October 5, Lecornu quit amid opposition rejection; President Macron granted him 48 hours for last-ditch talks, leading to his reappointment on October 10 with a slightly reshuffled team including technocrats and former PMs like Manuel Valls.
No-Confidence vote survival: On October 16, Lecornu’s reappointed government narrowly survived a no-confidence motion with 271 votes against the required 289, thanks to abstentions from Socialists (after pension reform concessions) and support from Republicans.
Budget deadline: Facing a mid-October deadline, the government unveiled a 2026 draft budget on October 13 targeting a 4.7% deficit reduction through €30 billion in cuts, but parliamentary gridlock delayed finalization, raising EU scrutiny and market volatility.
Pension reform crisis: In his October 14 policy declaration, Lecornu proposed suspending the 2023 pension reform until the 2027 presidential election to secure left-wing support, a move hailed by Socialists but criticized by centrists as a political concession.
Far-Right resolution passes (narrowly): On October 30, the National Assembly adopted a National Rally (RN)-backed resolution condemning the 1968 French-Algerian cooperation agreement by a single vote, highlighting RN’s growing influence.
Macron’s approval still plummeting deeper: Polls showed President Macron’s confidence rating at a historic low of 14% by mid-October, with 82% distrust, blamed on the crisis; of course, he accused his rivals of “destabilization”. Never his fault.
Opposition demands escalate: Far-right leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella reiterated calls for snap elections, while far-left wing LFI pushed for Macron’s impeachment under Article 68; centrists like Édouard Philippe floated early presidential polls.
Former president Sarkozy’s incarceration fallout: On October 21, former President Nicolas Sarkozy entered La Santé prison to serve a five-year sentence. The juges said there were no libyian fundings and that the main documents are « most proabaly » fake documents, but still condamend him for « criminal conspiracy ». Right-wing politicians consider this to be revenge on the part of judges (who tend to be left-wing).
EU and market reactions: Moody’s warned of further credit downgrades due to fiscal fragmentation; French bond yields rose amid fears of no budget by year-end, with Macron attending the October 2 European Political Community Summit in Copenhagen to reassure allies.
