France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned, less than a day after his cabinet was unveiled. The Elysée palace announced the decision after Lecornu met with President Emmanuel Macron for an hour on Monday morning. This unexpected resignation occurs merely 26 days after Lecornu’s initial appointment, which followed the downfall of François Bayrou’s previous government.
The composition of Lecornu’s cabinet had faced sharp criticism from across the political spectrum in the National Assembly, with several parties threatening to vote it down due to a lack of significant changes from the previous administration. This has fueled calls for early elections, with some even demanding President Macron’s resignation, though he has consistently stated his intention to serve his full term until 2027.
France has experienced considerable political turbulence since the snap parliamentary elections in July 2024 resulted in a hung parliament, making it challenging for any prime minister to secure the necessary support for legislative and budgetary matters. Lecornu, formerly the minister of armed forces and a staunch ally of President Macron, marks the fifth prime minister to serve in France in under two years.
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