France Eyed as Europe’s New ‘Bad Boy’: Could a Technocratic Government be the Solution?
TL/DR –
France’s recent political instability has led some to suggest it should consider a technocratic government, in the midst of political deadlock and five prime ministers in less than two years. The outgoing Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, suggested that the next PM should be disconnected from the presidential ambitions for 2027, adding that the country needed a team to solve its problems until the next presidential election. Though a technocratic government may help resolve the political crisis and reassure investors, this is considered unlikely due to the French public’s deep engagement with politics and the necessity for tough decisions to pass the 2026 budget and reduce the country’s deficit.
France, shaken by recent political instability, is being likened to Italy as Europe’s new “bad boy”. As the country navigates through political challenges, it could look to Italy’s technocratic government for solutions.
French President Emmanuel Macron is anticipated to name his new prime minister soon, following outgoing PM Sebastien Lecornu’s unsuccessful negotiation attempts to resolve the political deadlock.
Lecornu suggested the next PM would ideally be uninterested in the 2027 presidential ambitions, stating: “We need a team that ultimately decides to roll up its sleeves and solve the country’s problems until the presidential election.”
Can Italy’s Technocratic Government Model Be a Fit for France?
Lecornu suggested the idea of a technocratic government – chosen for technical expertise rather than through popular vote – to resolve France’s political crisis, which has resulted in five prime ministers in under two years.
This could be a way to assure investors while buying time till the 2027 presidential elections. In Italy, technocratic governments led by central bankers have been successful since the 1990s, with Mario Draghi as a prime example.
In France, Banque de France’s governor, François Villeroy de Galhau, is being touted as a potential PM candidate. However, a technocratic government, despite its potential benefits, may not appeal to the highly political French public, especially during this critical time of budgeting and deficit reduction.
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