French Minister of Armed Forces, Sébastien Lecornu, appointed by Emmanuel Macron to form a new government, will begin his duties on Wednesday, a day expected to see protests affecting transportation, education, and various services as a means to express public discontent with the president.
The upcoming demonstrations, under the banner “Shut Everything Down,” represent a significant test for Lecornu, who is a close ally of Macron and has held the position of Minister of Armed Forces for the past three years.
Following the national assembly’s vote of no confidence in François Bayrou’s government, the president tasked Lecornu on Tuesday, making him the seventh prime minister during Macron’s presidency and the fifth since the start of his second term in 2022. This marks an unprecedented occurrence in the history of the Fifth Republic, established in 1958, known for its long-standing stability.
The French presidency stated that Macron “believes that an agreement among political forces (led by Lecornu) is possible while respecting everyone’s convictions.”
Initially, Macron assigned Lecornu the responsibility of consulting with various parties to reach “the necessary agreements for decisions to be made in the upcoming months,” before establishing a new government.
Lecornu faces the challenging task of building bridges across a divided parliament with no clear majority for any party and ensuring that he does not share the fate of Bayrou, who held office for only nine months.
Lecornu expressed gratitude to Macron for his trust and praised Bayrou for his “courage in defending his beliefs until the end.”
He added, “The president has entrusted me with the task of forming a government with a clear focus on defending our independence and strength, serving the French people, and achieving political and institutional stability for the unity of the country.”
“No Tolerance”
The fall of Bayrou was precipitated by his government’s introduction of an austerity budget aimed at saving 44 billion euros to address the country’s massive national debt, which stands at 114% of GDP.
Simultaneously, France will witness protests on Wednesday, the scale and impact of which are difficult to estimate due to the minimal involvement of labor unions, many of which are planning their own day of strikes and widespread demonstrations on September 18.
However, calls primarily from leftist groups to “Shut Everything Down” have alarmed authorities, prompting the deployment of 80,000 police officers throughout France.
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned protesters that there would be “no tolerance” for violent acts or the blocking of major locations.
The police have also announced close monitoring of “vital points” crucial to the economy, such as oil refineries.
Retailleau indicated that France needs a new government swiftly to “embody the authority” of the state, accusing the extreme left party, France Unbowed, and its leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon of fostering a “climate of insurrection.”
While high-speed trains and most Paris metro services are expected to run normally, disruptions are anticipated in rail and airport services nationwide, including the main Paris airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly.
Although the mobilization reminds some of the “Yellow Vests” movement that shook France between 2018 and 2019, its impact remains uncertain, especially as it lacks a central leadership.
Paris Police Chief Laurent Nunez suspects that “radical left” elements are managing the protests and organizing large demonstrations without the backing of “civil society.”
Protesters are expected to demand the withdrawal of Bayrou’s plan to eliminate two annual holidays, cut medical costs for workers and employees, and offer more generous sick leave conditions.
Bayrou had emphasized the need to reduce spending and increase productivity to manage France’s debt and stabilize public finances.