The fall of another French government and Europe’s weakened core
Another government has fallen in France. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned before even finalizing his cabinet — marking the third collapse since the parliamentary elections in July 2024, after the Barnier and Bayrou governments. For President Emmanuel Macron, this deepens a crisis that strikes at France’s capacity to lead both at home and abroad.
France has long been a cornerstone of European stability — militarily, politically, and symbolically. Yet the repeated downfall of governments within just over a year reveals a state trapped in uncertainty. When cabinets fall every few months, strategic continuity becomes nearly impossible. The country that once shaped Europe’s defense and security debates is now struggling to maintain coherence in its own institutions.
The resignation of Sébastien Lecornu, one of Macron’s most loyal and trusted figures, underscores the depth of the crisis. If even a close ally steps aside, it will be increasingly difficult for the president to find anyone willing to assume the post of prime minister under such volatile political conditions. Both the left and the right are waiting for their opportunity, calculating their moves carefully as the political temperature rises.
The timing adds further pressure: France will hold its next presidential election in just two years. The far right, sensing momentum, is positioning itself as the alternative to Macron’s exhausted centrist model. Meanwhile, the divided left hopes that continued government instability will erode public confidence in the presidency.
In the broader geopolitical context, France’s domestic fragility weakens Europe’s collective posture. A nation divided internally cannot lead externally. As Europe faces hybrid threats, wars, and disinformation, it cannot afford a weakened France at its core. Macron’s challenge is no longer just to manage a government but to preserve France’s credibility as a strategic leader on the continent.
If France is to remain a pillar of European security, it must first rebuild political stability at home. Without internal strength, its leadership abroad — and Europe’s resilience — will continue to fade.
