In a move that sent shockwaves across the nation, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu dramatically resigned on Monday. This stunning development occurred less than 24 hours after he had unveiled his new cabinet, marking one of the briefest tenures in France’s modern political history.
A concise statement from President Emmanuel Macron’s office confirmed his acceptance of Mr. Lecornu’s unexpected departure.
While Mr. Lecornu was scheduled to address the nation later on Monday, the precise reasons behind his abrupt resignation remained unclear. However, his departure followed significant unrest concerning the makeup of his cabinet, which struggled to balance a fragile alliance of centrist and conservative factions.
This sudden resignation has intensified calls from opposition parties for President Macron to immediately schedule new parliamentary elections.
Mr. Lecornu, a trusted confidant of President Macron, had only been appointed to the role less than a month prior. His exit marks the third time a prime minister has stepped down within a year, highlighting an extraordinary period of political instability in France.
His resignation was reportedly fueled by increasing doubts about his ability to pass a crucial budget bill by the close of 2025, a necessity for addressing France’s escalating national debt and deficit. The lower house of Parliament remains in a state of gridlock, a direct consequence of the snap elections President Macron initiated in 2024, which left no single party with a governing majority.
Jordan Bardella, the leader of the nationalist, anti-immigrant National Rally party, learned of the resignation live on television. He quickly seized the opportunity to blame President Macron for the ongoing political chaos, claiming the President was now relying solely on his “last supporters.”
Critics from opposition parties have long accused President Macron of deliberately avoiding the appointment of a prime minister and cabinet capable of challenging his political agenda, despite his centrist alliance suffering a significant defeat in the recent snap elections.
“True stability cannot be restored without a fresh vote from the people,” declared Mr. Bardella.