The appointment of Sébastien Lecornu as France’s new Prime Minister was not a routine constitutional move after the fall of François Bayrou’s government. It unfolded at the very heart of a political and social storm that exposes a deeper systemic crisis. On the very day Lecornu took office, protests erupted in several cities under a striking slogan: “Paralyze Everything”, evoking memories of the turbulent “Yellow Vests” movement.
A new government… for an old deadlock
Emmanuel Macron chose a loyal ally (Lecornu, 39) in an attempt to restore political balance after Bayrou’s downfall. Yet, for many, the appointment felt like a “slap in the face,” as one protester in Lyon put it. With a fragmented parliament and eroded public trust, Lecornu’s mission seems nearly impossible: how can he build political bridges when much of the public perceives the system as closed and unresponsive?
Anger without leadership
From Paris to Lyon, Nantes to Toulouse, the scenes were striking: highways blocked, garbage bins set on fire, clashes with police. Yet this wave of unrest lacks a clear leadership. That absence makes it fragmented but also highlights the widening gap between working-class citizens and the government. The chants are not only directed at Lecornu himself, but at austerity policies that, according to protesters, “make workers pay the price.”
The economy at the heart of the storm
The conflict is, at its core, economic. Bayrou’s government collapsed after introducing an austerity budget that sought to cut €44 billion in spending, in a country where public debt has reached 114% of GDP. Every reduction in public spending translates into weaker social services and diminished workers’ rights. For many, Macron is merely changing faces while maintaining the same policies.
Between the Fifth Republic and a rebellious street
Since its creation in 1958, the Fifth Republic has symbolized stability. Today, it shows cracks: five prime ministers in less than three years of Macron’s second term, and a street that refuses to stay silent. The comparison with the “Yellow Vests” is not accidental: it reflects a clash between institutional legitimacy and social legitimacy.
Open questions
Will Lecornu succeed in forging parliamentary compromises and calming the protests, or will he become another political “sacrifice” under Macron?
Will the slogan “Paralyze Everything” spark a new cycle of mass mobilization, or will its lack of leadership cause it to fade quickly?
The answer will not take long. One thing is clear: France is entering a new phase of instability where reshuffling governments is no longer enough to contain a deeper crisis – a crisis of trust between people and institutions.
