Sébastien Lecornu, France’s newly appointed prime minister, has resigned amidst widespread criticism. His departure, occurring less than a month after assuming office and a mere day after announcing his government, has triggered a significant political crisis in the nation.
President Emmanuel Macron has accepted Lecornu’s resignation, according to a statement released by the French presidency on Monday. Lecornu, a replacement for François Bayrou, held the position briefly, becoming France’s fourth prime minister in just over a year.
Lecornu, a loyal supporter of Macron, cited his inability to achieve consensus as the reason for his resignation, stating that the necessary conditions for him to remain in office were no longer present.
“It wouldn’t take much for it to succeed,” Lecornu stated in his resignation address. “By being more selfless, by demonstrating humility. One must always prioritize the country over any political party.”
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Macron’s political opposition was quick to seize on the unexpected resignation. The far-right National Rally urged him to either call immediate new elections or step down himself.
Marine Le Pen, the far-right leader, commented, “This begs the question: can the president continue to resist dissolving the legislature? We have reached a dead end. The only sensible course of action is to return to the polls.”
Similarly, voices on the far left also demanded Macron’s resignation, while others on the left advocated for the revival of a coalition comprising leftists, socialists, greens, and communists.
The resignation had a negative impact on investors, causing a sharp decline in the CAC-40 index, which tracks leading French companies. The index fell by nearly 2% compared to its closing value on Friday.
Ministers who had just been appointed the previous night found themselves in the unusual position of becoming caretaker ministers, responsible for managing day-to-day operations until a new government is formed, even before some had officially taken office.
Agnès Pannier-Runacher, who was reappointed as minister for ecology, expressed her frustration on X, stating, “I despair of this circus.”
Lecornu’s selection of ministers has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum, particularly his decision to reinstate Bruno Le Maire as defense minister. Critics argue that France’s public finances suffered during Le Maire’s tenure as Finance Minister.
Lecornu’s primary task would have been to approve a budget at a time when France is grappling with a significant debt crisis. At the end of the first quarter of 2025, France’s public debt reached 3.346 trillion euros ($3.9 trillion), equivalent to 114% of its GDP. remains a substantial budget item, accounting for roughly 7% of government spending.
Other crucial positions remained largely unchanged from the previous Cabinet. Bruno Retailleau, a conservative, continued as interior minister, overseeing policing and internal security. Jean-Noël Barrot remained as foreign minister, and Gérald Darmanin retained his position as justice minister.
French politics has been in turmoil since Macron called snap elections last year, resulting in a highly fragmented legislature. Far-right and left-wing lawmakers together hold over 320 seats in the National Assembly, while centrists and allied conservatives hold 210.
In an effort to build consensus within the National Assembly, Lecornu consulted with various political factions and trade unions before forming his Cabinet. He also pledged not to utilize a special constitutional power that his predecessors had used to force budgets through Parliament without a vote. Instead, he committed to seeking compromise with lawmakers from both the left and the right.