France's new prime minister: Macron's last chance?
French President Macron has appointed his long-standing confidant Sébastien Lecornu as the country's new Prime Minister. The former defence minister succeeds François Bayrou, who resigned after a failed vote of confidence. Commentators examine the mood in the country and call for swift action from the political leadership.
The inequality has become unbearable
By appointing Sébastien Lecornu, the president has chosen to maintain his present course, which is disastrous for France, L’Humanité criticises:
“Defeated in the snap parliamentary elections in 2024, Emmanuel Macron is the face of a capitalist oligarchy that has never hesitated to renounce democracy when its privileges are threatened. He represents a wealthy class that resists any sharing of wealth and power. ... A tiny minority is grabbing a growing share of the national wealth. This is unbearable. France, the homeland of equality, will no longer tolerate these abysmal, outrageous inequalities. And its anger is about to boil over, no matter who is sitting in the prime minister's office.”
Abandoned majority wants to be heard
The new PM must find answers to the people's most pressing concerns, Le Figaro demands:
“Although he heads a minority government, Sébastien Lecornu must act as the voice of the forgotten, invisible and abandoned majority. Unbearable tax and regulatory pressure, excessive spending, uncontrolled immigration, rampant insecurity. ... The concerns shared by more than two-thirds of the French population are well known. ... Success is not guaranteed, but the alternative, that of muddling through, would lead to failure and disgrace.”
Politicians should put the public good first
The political class must learn to overcome its differences and work together, NRC stresses:
“To steer France into calmer waters, the parliamentarians themselves need to take responsibility for the chaos that has ensued and make an effort to reach compromises. Former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal's proposal to appoint a kind of informateur to work with multiple parties to develop a coalition programme sounds interesting. This will require politicians who do not put themselves, the next elections or street protests first, but who make a healthy future for France their priority.”
Playing into the hands of the far right
Macron is further strengthening Le Pen's party with the appointment, The Guardian warns:
“Continuing instability and paralysis in the political mainstream will only enhance the far right's prospects in presidential elections in 2027. But without a fundamental strategic shift in the Élysée, there is no reason to believe that Mr Bayrou's successor will fare any better. ... On entering office, Mr Macron presented himself as the grownup political antidote to the rise of the far right. But the rancorous chaos at the heart of mainstream French politics is the gift that keeps on giving to Ms Le Pen. Finally, belatedly, Mr Macron should accept the consequences of last summer's snap election and make a deal with the left.”
Spoilt citizens are to blame
De Telegraaf blames the French people for the chaos in the country:
“The problem lies in the mindset of many French workers who won't (or are not willing to) acknowledge how good they actually have it, and take to the barricades as soon as they see the slightest threat to their prosperity or social benefits. ... Elsewhere in Europe workers understand where the expression 'to live like God in France' comes from. Now it's up to the new Prime Minister Lecornu to pick up the political pieces and get the country's government back on track - an almost impossible task with such a deeply spoiled population.”