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Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev criticized French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday following the resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, whose government lasted just 14 hours before collapsing.
Medvedev took to social media to comment on the brief tenure of France's new government, calling the 14-hour duration a "sad record" and launching a personal attack on Macron's leadership priorities.
"France has Kiev's lawyer, Germany and Britain's dear friend, Africa's chatty colonial referee instead of a president," Medvedev wrote in his social media statement, suggesting Macron was more focused on international affairs than domestic governance.
The Russian official argued that Macron "does not care about France," using the government's rapid collapse as evidence of the French president's alleged neglect of domestic concerns.
Lecornu's resignation made him the shortest-serving prime minister in the history of France's Fifth Republic, which began in 1958. The unprecedented brevity of his tenure highlights the ongoing political instability that has plagued French governance in recent months.
France has struggled with parliamentary deadlock and coalition-building difficulties since legislative elections left no party with a clear majority. The rapid succession of government formations and collapses has created uncertainty in one of Europe's major economies.
Medvedev's comments reflect broader tensions between Russia and Western European nations, particularly over support for Ukraine. His characterization of Macron as "Kiev's lawyer" references France's backing of Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
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