France's Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has managed to survive his first major test in office, but the reprieve is unlikely to be long-lasting. A no-confidence motion tabled by the opposition fell short of the 289 votes needed to bring him down, but this doesn't mean that he can finally relax. The far left and far right are already gunning for him again.
In fact, Lecornu has only bought himself some breathing space after making major concessions to the left. To win the support of the Socialist Party, which holds about 65 MPs in parliament, he promised to freeze a key economic reform that would have increased the retirement age to 64.
However, this may come at a cost. By pledging not to use the constitutional device known as the 49:3 to push through laws without a vote, Lecornu has handed ultimate control of the budget over to the parties in parliament. This is a huge shift in power and reflects the decline of presidential authority since Macron's botched parliamentary dissolution last year.
The implications are profound. The far right and left have long demanded greater representation for their voices in parliament, and with this shift in power, they may finally get it. But for Lecornu and his government, this could also mean that the money markets and the European Union will demand a more drastic belt-tightening of debt reduction.
Meanwhile, France's reputation has been severely damaged by weeks of confusion and capitulation. The president's popularity ratings have plummeted to just 14%, with most French voters blaming him for the crisis. Even his one-time adviser, Alain Minc, believes that Macron will "go down as the worst president of the Fifth Republic".
For now, Lecornu can focus on passing the budget, but this won't be easy. The draft budget tabled by Lecornu aims to reduce the deficit to 4.7% of GDP by making savings of €30 billion. But even if that happens, it's unlikely to restore trust in politics or reverse the growing disillusionment with France's leaders.
The real question is whether France can recover from its current crisis and regain its standing on the world stage. One thing is certain: the country needs strong leadership, and Lecornu will need more than just survival instincts if he is to achieve that goal.
In fact, Lecornu has only bought himself some breathing space after making major concessions to the left. To win the support of the Socialist Party, which holds about 65 MPs in parliament, he promised to freeze a key economic reform that would have increased the retirement age to 64.
However, this may come at a cost. By pledging not to use the constitutional device known as the 49:3 to push through laws without a vote, Lecornu has handed ultimate control of the budget over to the parties in parliament. This is a huge shift in power and reflects the decline of presidential authority since Macron's botched parliamentary dissolution last year.
The implications are profound. The far right and left have long demanded greater representation for their voices in parliament, and with this shift in power, they may finally get it. But for Lecornu and his government, this could also mean that the money markets and the European Union will demand a more drastic belt-tightening of debt reduction.
Meanwhile, France's reputation has been severely damaged by weeks of confusion and capitulation. The president's popularity ratings have plummeted to just 14%, with most French voters blaming him for the crisis. Even his one-time adviser, Alain Minc, believes that Macron will "go down as the worst president of the Fifth Republic".
For now, Lecornu can focus on passing the budget, but this won't be easy. The draft budget tabled by Lecornu aims to reduce the deficit to 4.7% of GDP by making savings of €30 billion. But even if that happens, it's unlikely to restore trust in politics or reverse the growing disillusionment with France's leaders.
The real question is whether France can recover from its current crisis and regain its standing on the world stage. One thing is certain: the country needs strong leadership, and Lecornu will need more than just survival instincts if he is to achieve that goal.
come on guys, this is not a game of risk vs reward, France's economy is messed up because Macron didn't lead it wisely, now it's Sébastien Lecornu's turn to fix it 
. the opposition thinks they won by not being able to bring him down? lol, that's like thinking you can catch a fish with your bare hands, good luck with that 
. and btw, 289 votes needed is actually way more than what the opposition got, so calm down 
.
. Lecornu dodged a bullet with that no-confidence motion, but it was only a temporary reprieve 
. The real challenge is ahead of him - passing a budget that'll satisfy everyone, including the money markets and EU 
. It's like trying to find common ground between rival factions in a crowded café 
️. Lecornu needs more than just luck to navigate this minefield 
. And let's be real, France's reputation is already taking a hit 
. Can they recover from this crisis and regain their footing on the world stage? That's the million-dollar question 
.
Lecornu's reprieve is short-lived, but I still wanna give him a nod for taking on the tough decision to freeze the retirement age 
. It's not easy to make concessions like that, especially when it affects your own party's interests. He's basically handing over control of the budget to parliament, which might be a double-edged sword 
. On one hand, it could lead to more representation for the far left and right, but on the other hand, it might put pressure on his government to make harsher cuts in debt reduction 
. I'm worried about France's reputation taking a hit from this crisis, but at least Lecornu is trying to take some responsibility 
. He might've bought himself some breathing space, but I reckon the far left and right will be gunning for him again soon enough 
.
. It seems like he's handed control of the budget over to parliament, which could lead to some major changes... maybe even a more drastic belt-tightening? 
. Macron's popularity ratings are tanking, and even his old mate Alain Minc thinks he'll be remembered as one of the worst French presidents ever 
.
This is so disappointing but not entirely surprising 
. I mean, who wants to live in a country where politics is all about backroom deals and compromise? 
It feels like the system is broken, and we need someone with vision to come in and shake things up 
.
. France needs someone who can inspire hope and confidence, not just manage expectations 
.
I hope Lecornu is ready to lead the way, because if he doesn't, someone else will be waiting in the wings 
. Let's keep our fingers crossed that France can recover from this crisis and find its footing again 
.
. The country needs some strong leadership to get back on track, but it's hard when the parties in parliament have all the power now 
. I mean, who wouldn't want representation for their voices? 
how does a president even get that low in France? anyway, i'm not surprised though - macron's been all over the place for years and it's only a matter of time before he gets taken down... 
, people hate macron, and lécornu's popularity is tankin' 
. And what's up with all these protests and stuff? It feels like no one trusts anyone anymore 
. The far left and right are already gunning for him, and now he has to deal with the EU wanting more debt cuts? That's like asking someone on a date after you've cancelled plans three times 
. They need strong leadership, but Lecornu just survived his first test in office - what's next gonna be? 
. And now the far right and left are gunning for him again? That's just predictable.
I GUESS WHAT'S NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS THAT FRANCE NEEDS SOMEONE WITH REAL LEADERSHIP SKILLS TO COME IN AND SORT OUT ALL THIS MESS!!!
. The opposition still hasn't given up on him, and the far left and right are already planning their next move