Political Opposition Unites Against Lecornu II Government Amid Calls for Resignation and Assembly Dissolution
France's political opposition escalates pressure on the Lecornu II government with demands to suspend pension reforms, calls for the government's fall, and motions of censure following recent appointments.
- • Socialist Party demands suspension of pension reform and abandonment of article 49.3 to avoid censure.
- • Rassemblement National criticizes the government as ineffective and will file a motion of censure.
- • Marine Le Pen calls for immediate dissolution of the National Assembly.
- • The opposition is united in efforts to challenge the Lecornu II government amid political upheaval.
Key details
Following the reappointment of Sébastien Lecornu as Prime Minister, political opposition in France has intensified, with major parties expressing strong criticism and preparing motions of censure. On Sunday, Olivier Faure, the Socialist Party (PS) first secretary, disclosed that he had not communicated with Lecornu since Friday but remained open to dialogue. The Socialists insist on the suspension of the controversial 2023 pension reform and the abandonment of article 49.3, which permits passage of laws without a parliamentary vote, as prerequisites to avoid censure. Boris Vallaud, the Socialist deputies' leader, called for integrating the pension reform suspension into the social security financing law and lambasted the government's proposed budget trajectory, saying it inflicts hardship on citizens and local communities (ID 98295).
Jordan Bardella, president of Rassemblement National (RN), vehemently criticized the new government, describing it as a futile reshuffling of positions offering no real change. He accused the Socialists of covertly negotiating to support pension reform in exchange for electoral advantages and announced RN's intent to file a motion of censure. Bardella also plans to back La France Insoumise's (LFI) similar effort to topple the government, although LFI will not reciprocate. According to Bardella, many Socialists contemplate compromise out of concern of losing influence to LFI amid talk of dissolving the National Assembly. He highlighted popular demand for dissolving the Assembly and for President Macron's resignation to enable new elections addressing the political deadlock (ID 98357).
Further illustrating the opposition's resolve, Marine Le Pen called for the President to dissolve the National Assembly immediately, asserting that the French people must be heard. Manuel Bompard of LFI echoed the intent to dismantle what they term the "macronie." Meanwhile, political figures such as Estrosi from Horizons have joined calls for Macron's resignation, signaling a deep fragmentation in France's political center. Polling data reflect this upheaval, showing the RN with 34-35% support and a collapsing centrist bloc facing left-wing competition in forthcoming elections. The Lecornu government is scheduled to present its general policy declaration to the Assembly on Tuesday afternoon amid this crisis (IDs 98220, 98338).
This escalating opposition pressure highlights the precarious position of the Lecornu II government, facing internal demands to suspend key reforms and external calls for government collapse or outright Assembly dissolution. The government's immediate future will likely revolve around responding to these demands and surviving the impending censure motions.