France’s crisis takes an unexpected turn as Macron’s allies defy him

The resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has shown that this latest French government crisis is different to the previous ones because, this time, key allies of the government had been instrumental in toppling it, rather than the opposition.

Since then, a wider trend has emerged of allies turning against French President Emmanuel Macron. This has accelerated this week with his own former prime ministers coming out one after the other to criticize the president for his handling of the political deadlock that has gripped the National Assembly.

The most notable criticism has come from Gabriel Attal, once Macron’s protégé, and the youngest ever prime minister when appointed in early in 2024.

He lost the job just a few months later after Macron decided to call a snap election in June 2024, blindsiding even some of his closest allies, including Attal, who since then has been gradually distancing himself from his mentor.

Now the leader of Macron’s centrist group in parliament, Attal said on television Monday evening that “like many French, I no longer understand the president’s decisions” adding that the president gives ” the impression of a form of relentlessness, of wanting to keep control.”