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French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned less than a month after taking office, deepening France’s ongoing political turmoil. His departure came just hours after he announced his new cabinet, making his government one of the shortest-lived in the country’s history.
The French presidency confirmed on Monday that President Emmanuel Macron had accepted Lecornu’s resignation. The move adds another layer of instability to Macron’s administration, which has struggled to maintain control over a deeply divided Parliament. Lecornu’s exit marks the fifth change in prime minister in just two years under Macron’s leadership.
Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, had been under growing pressure as he tried to push through a national budget amid France’s mounting debt crisis. His task became increasingly difficult in a fractured Parliament split between far-right and far-left blocs. Despite promises to bring a fresh approach after the tenure of his unpopular predecessor, Francois Bayrou, Lecornu’s cabinet choices angered both supporters and critics. Many of his appointees had already served in the previous government, undermining his pledge for change.
One of the most controversial decisions was his plan to appoint former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire as defence minister. Critics accused Le Maire of contributing to the country’s high public deficit during his time at the finance ministry. Facing backlash, Le Maire later announced on X (formerly Twitter) that he would not take up the position, saying his appointment had caused “incomprehensible and disproportionate reactions.” He expressed hope that his withdrawal would help restart discussions to form a new, stable government.
Speaking briefly outside the prime minister’s office before stepping down, Lecornu admitted that political negotiations had reached a deadlock. “I was ready to compromise,” he said, “but each political party wanted the other to accept its entire programme.”
The resignation threw Macron’s government into disarray. The new cabinet had been scheduled to hold its first meeting on Monday afternoon, but those plans were cancelled following Lecornu’s announcement. The French stock market reacted sharply to the news, with the benchmark CAC 40 index dropping more than two percent amid fears that France may fail to pass a budget in time.
Despite stepping down, Lecornu has not been completely sidelined. In an unexpected twist, Macron tasked him with holding urgent talks with political leaders by Wednesday evening to “define a platform for action and stability for the country,” according to the presidential office. It remains unclear what authority Lecornu will hold in this temporary role, though the French constitution gives Macron the power to reappoint him if he chooses.
The latest resignation has fueled growing calls for Macron himself to step down or call new elections. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen described Lecornu’s cabinet as “pathetic” and said, “The only wise decision is to return to the polls.” Her party, National Rally, now holds the largest number of seats in Parliament. Party president Jordan Bardella echoed her view, declaring that his party was ready to “assume its responsibilities.”
Jean-Luc Melenchon, leader of the far-left France Unbowed party, also demanded that Macron resign. Meanwhile, Francois-Xavier Bellamy of the conservative Republicans party—who had cooperated with Macron in forming the short-lived cabinet—said his group had “nothing to fear from a dissolution” of Parliament.
The political chaos underscores France’s growing instability as the government struggles to maintain authority and economic confidence. With no clear majority in Parliament and rising public discontent, the path forward remains uncertain. Whether Macron will appoint another prime minister or face mounting pressure to call snap elections could determine the country’s political direction in the coming weeks.