French President Macron Faces Crippling Government Collapse and Rift in Loyalty
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron has hit a significant new low as two of his former prime ministers publicly distanced themselves from him amid intensifying calls for his resignation following the dramatic fall of his latest government.
Édouard Philippe, who served as Macron’s first prime minister after his 2017 election victory, and Gabriel Attal, once one of Macron’s most trusted allies and appointed prime minister in January 2024, have now openly criticized the president’s leadership. Attal expressed his frustration over Macron’s shocking decision in June 2024 to dissolve the National Assembly’s lower house—a move widely seen as the catalyst for the ongoing political crisis.
This growing separation between Macron and his close collaborators starkly highlights how the president’s grip on power is weakening, fueled by his failure to ensure a steady and decisive government.
France has been mired in political chaos for over a year, triggered by the dissolution of the National Assembly, which led to new elections. The outcome saw an assembly rife with Macron’s political adversaries, resulting in a series of failed minority governments that repeatedly collapsed under parliamentary opposition.
In an interview on Monday evening with broadcaster TF1, Attal openly questioned Macron’s leadership, stating, “Like many French citizens, I no longer comprehend the president’s decisions.”
Philippe intensified the pressure the following day by urging Macron to call for early presidential elections and step down once the 2026 budget is approved by the National Assembly. This proposition clashes with Macron’s earlier insistence that he would complete his second and final term ending in 2027.
Philippe argued, “We cannot allow the turmoil we’ve endured over the last six months to continue. Extending this for another 18 months would be damaging to France.”
The Challenge Facing Lecornu
The crisis escalated on Monday when Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu abruptly resigned. He is Macron’s fourth prime minister since the parliamentary dissolution, succeeding Attal, Michel Barnier, and Francois Bayrou.
After accepting Lecornu’s resignation, Macron tasked his 39-year-old ally with an additional 48 hours to conduct “final negotiations” aimed at restoring national stability. This move appears to be a desperate attempt to resolve the deadlock and buy Macron more time to determine his next actions.
On Tuesday, Lecornu convened with members of the Socle Commun—a coalition of conservative and centrist parties that had lent fragile support to Macron’s prime ministers. The coalition, however, fractured after Lecornu appointed a fresh Cabinet on Sunday night.
Shockingly, the government fell apart less than 14 hours later when influential conservative figure Bruno Retailleau withdrew his backing.
Political Rivalries and Uncertain Futures
With Macron’s approval rating plummeting to historic lows, uncertainty surrounds his future moves. His political opponents have proposed three main paths: to resign, to call snap elections, or to appoint a prime minister from outside Macron’s political camp.
The third option, called “cohabitation,” is favored by left-wing factions. The New Popular Front, a leftist coalition, won the largest number of seats in the 2024 legislative elections, resisting advances by the far right yet failing to secure a majority. Despite this success, the coalition quickly fractured, with socialists and communists at odds with Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s far-left party, France Unbowed.
Green party leader Marine Tondelier told France Televisions, “We prefer the cohabitation option — taking responsibility and genuinely transforming French society.”
Opposing them, the far right, led by Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, is pushing for early elections. Polling strongly ahead, they believe fresh legislative elections could boost their influence further.
National Rally president Jordan Bardella urged, “I call on the president to listen to the people's suffering, break free from his isolation, and dissolve the National Assembly. The French must have the chance to choose their own majority again. We are ready to take on that responsibility.”
A Nation Searching for Stability
Meanwhile, many ordinary French citizens express disenchantment with the political system. Guillaume Glade, a 36-year-old worker, told The Associated Press, “It feels like the Fifth Republic is on life support, barely hanging on with machines and medication. Perhaps it’s time to rethink everything. There are fractures everywhere, and it’s palpable.”
But here’s where it gets controversial: Should Macron cling to power through to 2027 despite these fractures, or is it time for a bold break? Is cohabitation truly a viable solution, or will it deepen divisions further? And what of early elections—could they actually bring about stability, or just more chaos? These questions are stirring fierce debate across France.
What do you think? Is Macron’s presidency salvageable, or is France destined for a major transformation in its political landscape? Share your thoughts below!
Contributed by Associated Press journalist Alex Turnbull in Paris, with reporting from London by Petrequin.
