Lecornu Government Faces Internal Turmoil as Les Républicains Voice Strong Criticism

The newly formed French government under Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu is already under pressure, notably from within the Les Républicains (LR) party. Bruno Retailleau, LR leader and Minister of the Interior, openly criticized the government's composition, emphasizing that it failed to bring the promised renewal. Only existing LR members such as Retailleau himself, Annie Genevard, and Rachida Dati were retained, while no new LR representatives were added despite rumors about potential inclusions like François-Xavier Bellamy and Othman Nasrou. Retailleau had demanded that LR secure one-third of government positions, a demand left unmet, causing anger among party members who fear backlash from militants on the ground. The appointment of Bruno Le Maire to the Ministry of the Armed Forces sparked considerable discontent, as Le Maire had left LR in 2017 to join President Macron's government and is associated with controversial financial management. Retailleau described Le Maire's return as a "significant affront" and criticized Lecornu for not informing him in advance of this appointment despite prior meetings. This internal dissent highlights the fragile state of Lecornu's government, which now faces threats of implosion shortly after its inception.