France contemplates the end of the Fifth Republic

Posted 2025-10-15 06:29:39

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On last Friday night, France's Macron stunned Paris by re-appointing Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister

Just four days after Mr Lecornu had resigned, with his first government collapsing in record time.

For decades, the French presidency has relied on what political scientists call the fait majoritaire – the automatic parliamentary majority that traditionally followed a newly elected head of state.

That era is over!

Since Macron lost his absolute majority in 2022, France has entered what historian Nicolas Roussellier calls “an age of tri-polarisation”.

Three irreconcilable blocs – a socialist and environmentalist Left, a pro-European liberal centre, and a sovereigntist far-Right – now dominate the National Assembly. None can command a majority.

As a result, asserted Mr Duhamel: “France has now moved beyond a political crisis. I think it’s a regime crisis.”

Even loyal centrists whisper the same fear: that the Fifth Republic, born amid the Algerian war and designed to end chronic instability, no longer fits a fragmented nation.

Macron warns vote of no confidence in French cabinet would imply dissolution of parliament

A vote of no confidence in the French government, if supported by members of the National Assembly (the lower house of parliament), would effectively signify the dissolution of parliament, French President Emmanuel Macron said during the first meeting of the Council of Ministers following the formation of the new government.

"Parliament is about to begin considering budget bills. He (Macron) noted that two no-confidence motions had been tabled, indicating that some MPs were unwilling to participate in the debate. He reminded that the motions of no confidence submitted are also resolutions to dissolve parliament and should be considered as such," Government Spokeswoman Maud Bregeon told reporters.

According to her, the head of state acknowledged that French society is divided and the political landscape fragmented, but stressed that during such times, mutual respect is essential. Against this backdrop, Macron called for unity within the government and for ensuring the "stability of institutions" of power. He added that "disagreements in politics deserve respect, but only when compromises are possible."

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu addressed the lower house of parliament on October 14th, presenting his government’s policy priorities, including the 2026 budget. Even before his speech, opposition parties National Rally and La France Insoumise submitted two no-confidence motions against the government, which are expected to be debated on Thursday morning.

For the motions to pass, and for the government to be dissolved, at least 289 votes are required. According to media estimates, around 265 MPs are expected to vote against the government, leaving the outcome dependent on undecided members from the Socialist and Republican parties.

Macron’s popularity reaches dubious milestone

Macron has become the first head of state left outside of the country’s top 50 popular politicians, according to a ranking released by Paris Match.

Among 1,000 French adults who took part in the IFOP-Fiducial survey, 78% have a negative view of Macron’s performance as president, a rise from 70% a month earlier. "That’s a record share. There’s definite discontent, the people are just at a complete loss," IFOP CEO Frederic Dabi told the French magazine.

Thus, the French head of state ranked 51st after Prime Minister Francois Bayrou who resigned last month. Macron’s predecessors, Francois Hollande and Nicolas Sarkozy, never dropped below 43rd place, the magazine wrote.

Other incumbent or former French government officials also saw their rankings fall. Former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire who served as the head of the Armed Forces Ministry in the short-lived previous government slid as many as 26 places. The survey was conducted after Sebastien Lecornu was reappointed Prime Minister but before the current government was announced.

None of the politicians from the top 50 received more than 50% positive feedback from the respondents. "We can see mass rejection of outgoing politicians directly or indirectly related to Macronism," Dabi explained.

However, opponents of the ruling party, the leaders of the far-right National Rally party, Jordan Bardella and Marine Le Pen, could not draw additional sympathy from participants in the survey either: they dropped six and five places, respectively, from last month’s ranking.