The forced resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu should be interpreted as a loud and clear warning shot from the French Parliament to the Presidency. The message is unequivocal: “We are in charge now, and you will ignore us at your peril.”
For years under a strong presidential majority, the parliament’s role was often seen as secondary, a rubber stamp for the will of the Elysee. However, since President Emmanuel Macron lost his majority, the legislature has been steadily reasserting its power. The ousting of Lecornu’s two predecessors were the initial skirmishes.
The instant destruction of Lecornu’s government is a full-scale declaration of parliamentary supremacy. By rejecting a cabinet before it could even meet, the parliament has shown that it holds the ultimate power of approval. It was a demonstration of force designed to intimidate the presidency.
This warning shot was aimed directly at Macron. It tells him that his presidential appointments are meaningless without the consent of the legislature. It signals that any attempt to govern without genuine compromise and power-sharing will be met with swift and decisive political force.
Macron has now heard the shot. His next moves will show if he has understood the warning. If he appoints another government that ignores the will of the parliament, he can expect another, perhaps even more damaging, volley. The balance of power in France has shifted, and this event was the formal announcement.
