PARIS – France was thrown into deeper political turmoil on Monday after its newly appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned only hours after announcing his cabinet, amid growing threats from both allies and opposition to topple his fledgling government.
Lecornu’s abrupt resignation — both unexpected and unprecedented — sent shockwaves through France’s political landscape, as well as its financial markets. French stocks tumbled and the euro weakened following the announcement, reflecting fears of prolonged instability in Europe’s second-largest economy.
After weeks of cross-party consultations, Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, had only just named his new ministers on Sunday. The first cabinet meeting was scheduled for Monday afternoon.
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However, the lineup immediately sparked discontent across the political spectrum — some critics branding it too right-wing, others accusing it of being insufficiently reformist. The mounting criticism raised doubts over how long Lecornu’s government could survive amid France’s deeply divided parliament, where no single group holds a majority.
By Monday morning, Lecornu had submitted his resignation to the president. “Mr. Sebastien Lecornu has submitted the resignation of his Government to the President of the Republic, who has accepted it,” the Elysee Palace confirmed in a brief statement.
France’s political instability has worsened since Macron’s 2022 re-election, as the president has struggled to push through legislation in a fragmented National Assembly. His decision to call a snap parliamentary election last year only deepened the crisis, producing an even more divided legislature.
Lecornu, appointed barely a month ago, was Macron’s fifth prime minister in just two years — a striking reflection of the government’s fragility and the mounting challenges facing the French presidency.