The French Prime Minister-designate takes office on the day of the protests
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, tasked by Emmanuel Macron with forming a new government, will begin his duties on Wednesday, a day when the country is bracing for protests that will affect transport, education, and other services, aimed at demonstrating popular anger toward the French president.
The protests, under the slogan “Let’s paralyze everything,” could pose a real test for Lecornu, (39), a close ally of Macron who has served as Minister of the Armed Forces for the past three years.
The French president appointed Lecornu on Tuesday, the day after the National Assembly withdrew confidence from François Bayrou’s government.
Lecornu becomes the seventh prime minister under Macron, and the fifth since the start of his second term in 2022.
This is unprecedented in the Fifth Republic, which was proclaimed in 1958 and has long been known for its stability.
The French presidency said that Macron is “convinced that reaching an agreement between the political forces is possible, while respecting everyone’s convictions”.
The French presidency said that Macron initially tasked Lecornu with consulting with the parties with the aim of reaching the necessary agreements for the decisions that will be taken in the coming months, before forming a new government.
Lecornu faces the difficult task of building bridges across a divided parliament with no clear majority for either party, ensuring he doesn’t suffer the same fate as Bayrou, who served in office for only nine months.
Lecornu thanked Macron for his trust and praised Bayrou for his courage in defending his convictions to the end.
He added, “The President of the Republic has entrusted me with the task of forming a government with a clear vision: defending our independence and strength, serving the French people, and achieving political and institutional stability for the country’s unity”.
Bayrou’s downfall came after his government proposed an austerity budget that aimed to raise €44 billion to reduce the country’s massive public debt, which stands at 114% of GDP.
Meanwhile, France is witnessing protests on Wednesday.
It’s still difficult to estimate the number of participants or the extent of their impact on various sectors in the country, given the limited participation of labor unions, most of which are planning their own day of strikes and large-scale protests on September 18.
However, the call by mostly left-wing groups to “paralyze everything” nevertheless raised concerns among the authorities, prompting them to deploy 80,000 police officers across France.
For his part, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned protesters that there would be “Zero tolerance” for violent acts or closures of key locations.
Police also announced that they are closely monitoring “points of vital importance” to economic life, such as oil refineries.
France needs a new government quickly to “embody the authority” of the state, Routay said, accusing the far-left La France Insoumise party and its leader, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, of seeking to foster a “climate of rebellion”.
While high-speed trains and most Paris metro trains will operate normally, rail and airport services across the country, including Paris’s two main airports, Charles de Gaulle and Orly, are expected to experience disruptions.
Although this mobilization reminds some of the “Yellow Vest” movement that shook France between 2018 and 2019, its impact remains unknown, especially since its leaderless.
Paris Police Chief Laurent Núñez said he suspected the “radical left” was orchestrating the protests and organizing massive movements, but without the support of civil society.
Protesters will demand the abolition of Bayrou’s plan, the elimination of two annual holidays, a reduction in medical costs for workers and employees, and the introduction of more generous sick leave conditions.
Bayrou insisted on the need to cut spending and increase productivity to control France’s debt and stabilize public finances.
