001 ENG: France’s Unstable Status

02/09/2026

France’s recent government instability is primarily derived from the fact that President Emmanuel Macron no longer sustains a reliable majority in Parliament. After Macron was reelected in 2022, his political alliance lost its absolute majority in the National Assembly. This made it notably more difficult for his governments to pass laws without support of the broader parliamentarian. Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne survived several no-confidence attempts, but her government became unpopular, especially after using Article 49.3 to pass the 2023 pension reform. Gabriel Attal replaced her in early 2024, but Macron’s decision to call a snap election later that year made the political situation even more divided and unstable. The 2024 election left France with no clear majority, splitting Parliament between the left, Macron’s centrists, and the National Rally. Michel Barnier became prime minister in September 2024, but his government collapsed in December after both the left and National Rally supported a no-confidence vote over his budget plans. François Bayrou replaced him and lasted longer, but his government also fell in September 2025 after losing a confidence vote tied to plans for spending cuts and deficit reduction. Sébastien Lecornu was then appointed prime minister, briefly resigned after announcing an unpopular cabinet, and was then appointed again only a few days later.

The deeper problem is that France’s political system works much more smoothly when the president has a strong parliamentary majority. Macron no longer has that advantage, while the main political blocs have very different goals and are already preparing for the 2027 presidential election. As it stands, France needs to reduce its large budget deficit, but spending cuts and tax increases are politically unpopular. France’s institutions are still functioning normally, but forming stable governments has become much harder because no major political group has enough seats to govern alone. Additionally, we must take into consideration the over indulgence of Egalite and Liberte, at the expense of Fraternite. Fraternite provides the foundational stability of respective European societies, with modern societies often at a deficit of Fraternite. The further political and social division of French politics will only serve as a detriment to the remaining Fraternite of the French nation.