France’s New Prime Minister and Protests

Sébastien Lecornu, Courtesy of Yahoo

Protests broke out across France following the inauguration of the new French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, with more than a million demonstrators flooding major cities. The unrest was the result of several years of political clashes, running much deeper than simply a new political appointment.

In June 2024, French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the National Assembly, the lower and primary legislative body in France's bicameral parliament. In its place, the French people voted in a new parliament with left-wing leaders constituting the majority of representatives. 

Macron then appointed a right-wing prime minister, Michel Barnier, to lead parliament, a move met with dismay from the French public. Barnier’s tenure lasted only 99 days before parliament voted him out. Following Barnier’s expulsion, Macron appointed another right-wing prime minister, François Bayrou, who was highly unpopular. Discontent amongst French constituents reached a high when, in June 2024, Bayrou proposed cutting 44 billion euros from the 2026 Budget plan. These budget cuts entailed the elimination of two national holidays, the freezing of pensions and social benefits, and a dramatic increase in healthcare costs. Bayrou justified the cuts by arguing that they would reduce the national debt and help balance France’s budget. 

His proposals proved to be incredibly unpopular among the working classes, who were disproportionately affected by them, while the upper classes were essentially untouched. This, following Macron’s 2023 legislation to move up the retirement age from 62 to 64, led to further tensions among an already divided public. Consequently, Bayrou was voted out of office by the left-leaning parliament. In his place, Macron appointed yet another right-wing politician and close ally, Sébastien Lecornu. Lecornu’s appointment produced another public outcry. Tens of thousands of demonstrators took to the streets to protest his inauguration in what they dubbed “Bloqouns touts” —  “Block Everything” demonstrations.

Macron is operating fully within the powers vested in him by the French constitution, which grants the president the sole authority to appoint prime ministers.  The left-wing majority in the Parliament, however, renders his repeated choice of right-wing leaders incongruent with the will of the people. While legally valid, his decisions erode public trust in political institutions and strike many as a betrayal of democratic norms.

Many constituents feel that their voting rights are being violated and stripped by the president’s constant undermining of the parliament through his ministerial appointments, and have demanded change. But what would this change look like for the public? 

Some have called for Macron to resign, while others favor fresh elections that would allow the left-wing parliamentary majority to act in accordance with popular will. Many protesters consider the problem more systemic than anything else. They claim that, under the Constitution of the Fifth French Republic, the president possesses too much power, as many believe Macron shouldn’t have the ability to override the parliament's will. As a result, there have been increasing calls for constitutional reform. 

Others, however, have gone as far as to call for the establishment of a Sixth Republic, which would move France closer to a system centered on parliament rather than the executive. Currently, the semi-presidential system renders the prime minister the notional head of government while giving the President the lion's share of the power. A more parliamentary system would reverse this. For many, these protests are about changing the fundamental tenets of French democracy so that future leaders cannot reverse unpopular policies such as budget cuts or pension reforms.

These demands for systematic change have mobilized the nation. On September 18, the General Confederation of Labor reported the existence of more than 1 million strikers and protesters nationwide. More than 80,000 police officers were deployed nationwide, resulting in the arrests of over 500 protesters. Although demonstrations reportedly began peacefully, protesters quickly turned to violence, with many destroying cars and buildings; in return, the police began to use force on the protesters. One video showed two officers beating a protester during a Parisian demonstration. Recordings of these acts and events have elicited tremendous consternation among the public. 

These protests are far from the first instance of the French using strikes and demonstrations as political tools. Since the Revolution of 1789, the French have been known for their rich tradition of resisting tyranny. The May 1968 demonstrations, sparked by student unrest and labor strikes, nearly brought the country to a halt and forced then-President Charles de Gaulle to dissolve parliament and call new elections. The Yellow Vest movement of 2018, rooted in anger prompted by rising fuel prices and economic inequality, resulted in a critique of Macron’s presidency and perceived insouciance vis-à-vis working-class concerns, similar to the Block Everything movement. 

It’s unclear how this newest incarnation of revolutionary fervor will play out in the next pages of French history. The pressure facing Macron might oblige him to appoint a left-wing prime minister to align with parliament and ease national tensions, but,  given his past actions, this denouncement appears unlikely. Macron’s resignation would change little, for his opponents also possess little support in public opinion polls. Even more probable is the fact that, taking previous political movements into account, the Block Everything movement is projected to lose its momentum and end up having accomplished nothing.

Whether 'Block Everything' becomes a turning point or fades into history remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the public’s patience with executive overreach is wearing thin.