Day: October 6, 2025

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu Resigns Amid Criticism

French President Emmanuel Macron has accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who stepped down less than a month after taking office. Lecornu, sworn in on September 10, stated that “the conditions to remain prime minister were no longer met,” reports 24brussels.

The resignation follows backlash regarding the composition of Lecornu’s cabinet, which largely included ministers from previous governments. Lecornu had been set to present his general policy address to the National Assembly on Tuesday.

“My decision not to invoke Article 49.3 of the Constitution, and to return power to Parliament, has not led to the realisation that things can be done differently,” the former prime minister remarked in a statement on Monday.

Article 49.3 permits the government to advance legislation through the National Assembly without a vote, a strategy used to secure budget approvals during Macron’s term. Lecornu had committed to avoiding its use in favor of promoting wider parliamentary consensus.

However, that consensus failed to materialize. Lecornu accused rival parties of engaging in political maneuvers as they prepare for the 2027 elections, stating, “The composition of the government has led to the awakening of some party political ambitions, especially with a view to the presidential elections.”

Political Crisis Deepens

Lecornu’s departure marks the fifth resignation of a prime minister since Macron took office in 2022, exacerbating pressure on the French president to regain public confidence ahead of critical budget discussions this fall. France’s budget deficit exceeds 5 percent of GDP, the highest within the European Union.

With Lecornu’s resignation, the French political crisis intensifies. Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right Rassemblement National, has called on Macron to dissolve the National Assembly and initiate new elections.

^{PHOTO © Stephane Mahe / POOL / AFP}

Moscow – The Kremlin asserted on Monday that it possesses the necessary resources to meet all battlefield demands, following a claim by Ukraine that China is supplying intelligence to enhance Moscow’s missile capabilities against Ukraine, reports 24brussels.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded to inquiries regarding the issue after Oleh Aleksandrov, an official with Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Agency, alleged that China was sharing satellite intelligence regarding targets, including those associated with foreign investments.

“We have our own capabilities, including space capabilities, to accomplish all the tasks the special military operation poses,”

Peskov stated to reporters, rejecting the assertions made by Ukrainian officials.

What intelligence evidence did Ukraine claim to possess?

Oleh Aleksandrov indicated that China was allegedly sharing satellite intelligence related to military targets, highlighting a cooperative effort between Russia and China in satellite reconnaissance over Ukraine.

“There is evidence of a high level of cooperation between Russia and China in conducting satellite reconnaissance of the territory of Ukraine in order to identify and further explore strategic objects for targeting,”

Aleksandrov added, referencing potential targets that may involve foreign investors.

“As we have seen in recent months, these sites may belong to foreign investors.”

How has China allegedly aided Moscow’s military operations?

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and local officials reported that a Russian missile attack in August struck a U.S.-owned appliance plant in the western Zakarpattia region, injuring 15 individuals. Previously, in April, Zelenskiy asserted that China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia, claiming that his government held intelligence suggesting Chinese weapons were being manufactured within Russia.

How is the US planning to assist Ukraine’s strikes?

Meanwhile, the United States is reportedly preparing to provide Ukraine with intelligence to support long-range strikes targeting Russia’s energy infrastructure and is considering the supply of Tomahawk missiles. Zelenskiy mentioned that this could include “maybe something more.”

U.S. officials noted that this intelligence will facilitate Ukraine’s targeting of “refineries, pipelines, power stations, and other infrastructure far beyond its borders,” while encouraging NATO allies to enhance cooperation in this regard.

The intelligence supplied by the U.S., encompassing satellite imagery and monitoring data, is expected to significantly amplify the precision of Ukraine’s strikes on Russian military and infrastructure targets.