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The French Government in 2025: Structure, Challenges, and Current Crisis

The French Government in 2025: Structure, Challenges, and Current Crisis

Introduction & Context

France is a semi-presidential republic under its Fifth Republic (established 1958). In this system, executive power is shared between a President and a Prime Minister, each with defined roles. 

In recent years, French politics has faced growing instability. Since 2024, the government has undergone multiple changes in leadership, frequent use of constitutional powers to bypass parliamentary gridlock, and intense disputes over budget and reforms. In 2025, a new government under Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu was established (September), only to see its resignation mere weeks later, plunging France into further political uncertainty.

Below is a breakdown of how the French government is structured, how it operates in practice, and what challenges it is facing in 2025.

1. Constitutional & Institutional Framework

1.1 The Constitution and the Fifth Republic

  • The Constitution of 4 October 1958 defines France’s institutions, their powers, and interactions. 

  • It established a strong presidency, partly to ensure stability after the frequent governmental collapses under France’s earlier regimes. 

  • The President holds significant powers: appointing the Prime Minister, dissolving the National Assembly, presiding over the Council of Ministers, commanding the armed forces, and more. 

1.2 Division of Powers: President / Prime Minister / Government

  • President: Elected by universal suffrage for a 5-year term. 

  • Prime Minister: Appointed by the President. The PM leads the government and is accountable to the National Assembly. 

  • Government / Cabinet: Composed of senior and junior ministers. They implement laws, propose bills, and manage day-to-day administration. 

  • The government can issue decrees, regulatory acts, and use special legislative procedures under constitutional articles (e.g. Article 49.3) when parliamentary consensus is low. 

1.3 Parliament: Bicameral Legislature

  • National Assembly (Assemblée nationale): Lower house, with 577 deputies. Deputies are elected via a two-round system. 

  • The Assembly holds stronger power in legislative conflicts; in case of disagreement, the Assembly’s position often prevails. 

  • The President can dissolve the National Assembly (with conditions) and call for early elections. 

  • Senate (Sénat): Upper house. It reviews legislation and represents territorial interests. It is less powerful in impasses. 

1.4 Constitutional Council & Other Oversight Bodies

2. Political & Electoral Landscape (2024–2025)

2.1 2024 Snap Elections & Fragmented Legislature

2.2 Use of Constitutional Tools & Government Reshuffles

  • Because of weak parliamentary majorities, successive governments have used Article 49.3 to push through legislation without direct votes. 

  • There has been high turnover in the office of Prime Minister: Attal → Barnier → Bayrou → Lecornu (in 2025).

  • In September 2025, Prime Minister François Bayrou lost a confidence vote in the National Assembly (vote: 364 against, 194 in favor), forcing him to resign.

  • President Macron named Sébastien Lecornu as the new Prime Minister on 9 September 2025, forming France’s 47th government under the Fifth Republic. 

  • But Lecornu resigned just a few weeks later (on 6 October 2025), following political fallout over cabinet appointments. 

  • As of now, his government continues in a caretaker role while President Macron consults parties to form a new administration. 

3. Key Challenges & Policy Issues in 2025

3.1 Budget, Deficit & Public Finance

  • The 2025 budget requires substantial borrowing: France’s state budget financing requirement is around €306.7 billion.

  • The government aims to reduce the budget deficit via cuts of several billion euros.

  • In 2025, local authorities are seeing budget cuts of €2.2 billion imposed by the state as part of cost savings. 

  • Any inability to pass the budget may force the government to use special executive powers (e.g. Article 49.3) or adopt fallback laws. 

3.2 Political Instability & Governance Risk

  • Frequent changes in leadership erode trust and make long-term planning hard. 

  • The fractured National Assembly makes forming a stable ruling coalition difficult.  

  • There is growing public frustration with perceived overuse of executive power, especially bypassing parliament. 

3.3 Reforms Under Pressure

  • Pension reform — raising retirement age from 62 to 64 — has been a major flashpoint. 

  • Immigration, public spending, taxation, and social inequality remain contentious topics.

  • Constitutional critics talk of moving toward a Sixth Republic to overhaul political institutions. 

3.4 External & International Concerns

  • France must meet EU fiscal rules and defend its position in the European Union. 

  • Its leadership within Europe, foreign policy, defense, and relations with global powers depend on having a stable government.

  • The Bougival Accord (2025) is an ongoing issue: agreement concerning New Caledonia’s status inside France, to be constitutionally embedded and confirmed by referendum in 2026. 

4. Outlook & Scenarios

  • The current caretaker government may last weeks or months as negotiations continue.

  • If a new coalition cannot be formed, Macron might be pressured to call snap legislative elections.

  • Fiscal pressures and global economic conditions may force compromises or austerity, which could trigger protests or opposition backlash.

  • Institutional reforms (e.g. revising the constitution or shifting power balances) remain possible if the political class pushes for a Sixth Republic.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the difference between the President and Prime Minister in France?

The President is head of state, overseeing foreign policy, defense, and appointing the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister heads the government and is responsible for domestic policy and executing laws. The PM is politically accountable to the National Assembly.

2. Who chooses the Prime Minister?

The President appoints the Prime Minister. However, the PM must secure parliamentary support; if the National Assembly votes no confidence, the government must resign.

3. What is Article 49.3 and why is it controversial?

Article 49.3 of the French Constitution allows the government to pass a bill without a parliamentary vote, unless a motion of no confidence is passed. It is controversial because it bypasses legislative deliberation and is seen as an executive overreach.

4. Why has France had so many governments in 2025?

Because of a fragmented National Assembly, no party holds a strong majority. This makes coalition-building difficult, and governments fall when they lose confidence or fail in critical votes (e.g. budget). 

5. What happens when a Prime Minister loses a confidence vote?

The government must resign. The President then appoints a new Prime Minister. If no stable government can be formed, early elections may be called.

6. Can the President dissolve Parliament?

Yes, under certain conditions. The President can dissolve the National Assembly and call for early elections, but not within a year of its last dissolution. 

7. What is the Constitutional Council’s role?

The Constitutional Council reviews whether laws passed by Parliament comply with the Constitution. It can strike down unconstitutional statutes. 

8. What is the Bougival Accord?

A 2025 agreement concerning New Caledonia’s status. If ratified and put to local referendum, it may redefine how New Caledonia is incorporated within France. 

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