The Composition of the French Government: Between Continuity and Rupture
Paris – The appointment of Sébastien Lecornu’s government has sparked mixed reactions within the French political class. Does this new cabinet, which includes four members of the Republicans (LR), among them Bruno Retailleau at the Ministry of the Interior, represent a genuine break from previous policies, or is it merely continuity in disguise?
A Difficult Balance
The Lecornu government is made up
of 18 ministers, including several heavyweights who have retained their posts.
Among them are familiar figures such as Bruno Retailleau at the Interior,
Gérald Darmanin at Justice, Élisabeth Borne at National Education, Catherine
Vautrin at Labour and Health, and Rachida Dati at Culture. This composition
could be seen as a desire to maintain a degree of stability and continuity in
the management of public affairs.
Political Reactions: Between
Criticism and Skepticism
Political reactions to this
appointment have been largely negative. Opposition parties criticized the
cabinet, arguing that it does not meet the expectations of the French for a
real break with previous policies. The National Rally (RN) denounced a government
made up of “the last Macronists clinging to the raft of the Medusa,” while La
France Insoumise criticized what it called a cabinet “80% composed of LR
members and former LR members hired to continue a policy that has caused so
much popular suffering and ecological damage.”
Government Priorities: A Major
Challenge
The Lecornu government faces
several major challenges, foremost among them the need to pass a national
budget before the end of 2025. To achieve this, it will have to navigate a
complex political landscape and strike a balance between the expectations of
different parties and interest groups.
