France is no stranger to political drama, but the events of early October 2025 have pushed the country into a crisis that even seasoned observers are calling unprecedented. The resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu on October 6, 2025, triggered a chain reaction that has left President Emmanuel Macron’s government teetering on the brink, with rival factions circling and the public’s confidence at historic lows. Across French and international media, the mood is one of exasperation, uncertainty, and, for some, a touch of gallows humor.
French newspapers did not mince words in their front-page coverage on October 7. Libération thundered with the headline "The Incapables," while L'Humanité dusted off the term "Chienlit"—chaos—made famous by Charles de Gaulle in 1968. Aujourd'hui en France asked, "Is there anyone there?" and La Provence dismissed the government’s state as a "circus." According to Le Figaro, Lecornu was given a mere 48 hours to present a plan to rescue national stability, a nearly impossible task given the fractious state of French politics.
The international press was quick to weigh in. Italy’s Panorama declared Italy more reliable than France, while Portugal’s Publico blamed a "dysfunctional constitutional system" for the chaos. In Belgium, Le Soir described the situation as "French vaudeville," warning that the crisis could pave the way for a far-right government. Russia’s Vzglad saw Lecornu’s resignation as evidence of a "crisis of the liberal model." Meanwhile, in the UK, The Times dismissed Macron as a "lame duck running out of options."
At the heart of the crisis is President Macron himself, whose authority has been battered by a series of government collapses since his fateful decision in June 2024 to dissolve the National Assembly. That move, intended to break a legislative deadlock, instead resulted in a fragmented parliament dominated by opponents. As reported by the Associated Press, minority governments have been toppled one after another, with Macron’s approval ratings now at record lows.
The latest blow came not only from Lecornu’s resignation—after less than a day with his new Cabinet—but also from two of Macron’s former prime ministers. Édouard Philippe, Macron’s first prime minister, and Gabriel Attal, once one of his closest allies, have both publicly distanced themselves from the president. Speaking to TF1 on October 6, Attal said, "Like many French people, I no longer understand the president’s decisions." The following day, Philippe urged Macron to call early presidential elections and step down after the 2026 budget is adopted, warning, "We cannot let what we have been experiencing for the past six months drag on. Another 18 months would be far too long and would harm France."
Lecornu, for his part, was tasked by Macron with holding "final negotiations" to try to cobble together a stable government. He met with officials from the so-called Socle Commun—a coalition of conservatives and centrists that had provided shaky support for Macron’s previous prime ministers. But the new government collapsed in less than 14 hours when key conservative Bruno Retailleau withdrew his backing, as detailed by France 24. Now, Lecornu’s mission seems all but doomed, and the clock is ticking.
Against this backdrop, rival political camps are jostling for position. The left-wing New Popular Front coalition, which won the most seats in the 2024 legislative elections but failed to secure a majority, is pushing for "cohabitation"—the appointment of a prime minister from outside Macron’s camp. Green party leader Marine Tondelier told France Télévisions, "It is the choice of cohabitation—being called to take responsibility and finally being able to truly change the lives of the French—which we prefer." Yet the alliance itself is fractious, with socialists and communists at odds with Jean-Luc Mélenchon’s far-left France Unbowed party.
Meanwhile, the far-right National Rally, led by Marine Le Pen and currently leading in the polls, is calling for snap elections. National Rally president Jordan Bardella declared, "I call on the president of the Republic to hear the suffering in the country, to come out of his isolation, and to dissolve the National Assembly. We must go back to the French people so they can choose a majority for themselves. We are ready to take responsibility."
For Macron, the options are grim: resign, call new elections, or attempt cohabitation by appointing a prime minister from the opposition. So far, he has insisted he will see out his term until 2027, but the pressure is mounting from all sides—including from his own former allies. As The Times noted, Macron now appears to be running out of options, his authority "sapped by his inability to deliver stable governance."
The crisis has not gone unnoticed by ordinary French citizens, many of whom express deep disillusionment. Guillaume Glade, a 36-year-old worker, summed up the mood to the Associated Press: "The impression is that the Fifth Republic is on life support, on a respirator, on morphine, and maybe we should think about changing all that a bit. There are cracks on all sides, and we can feel it."
While France grapples with its political turmoil, the world watches with a mix of concern and fascination. The country’s reputation for political resilience is being put to the test, and the outcome remains uncertain. As the 48-hour deadline for Lecornu’s negotiations approaches, all eyes are on Paris, where the next move could reshape not just the government, but the very foundations of the French Republic.
One thing is certain: the circus, as La Provence called it, is far from over. With left and right both clamoring for control, and the center struggling to hold, France stands at a crossroads—its future direction hanging in the balance.
