France's Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has stepped down, less than a day after revealing his cabinet lineup and only 26 days into the role, marking another chapter in the country's ongoing political turmoil.
In a statement delivered on Monday morning, Lecornu announced his resignation, citing an absence of the necessary conditions to continue leading the government. He pointed to a widespread reluctance among political parties to reach compromises.
“The conditions were not fulfilled for me to carry on as prime minister,” Lecornu said, expressing frustration with what he called the “partisan appetites” of rival factions. He accused all parties of behaving as though they held an outright majority and lamented their unwillingness to engage in mutual concessions.
The Elysée Palace confirmed the resignation following an hour-long meeting between Lecornu and President Emmanuel Macron earlier in the day.
Lecornu’s departure follows widespread backlash in the National Assembly over his cabinet’s composition, which largely mirrored that of his predecessor François Bayrou. Opposition parties, ranging from the left to the far right, had signaled their intent to reject the cabinet, criticising it as a continuation of failed leadership.
With the resignation triggering fresh political uncertainty, several parties have renewed calls for snap elections, and some have even urged President Macron to resign—something he has consistently ruled out, insisting he will serve out his term until 2027.
“The only wise thing to do now is to hold elections,” said Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), adding, “The joke's gone on long enough. French people are fed up. Macron has put the country in an extremely difficult position.”
Lecornu, a former defence minister and close ally of Macron, was France’s fifth prime minister in less than two years. Speaking briefly outside the Hôtel de Matignon, the official prime ministerial residence he occupied for less than a month, he emphasised that he had been willing to find common ground.
“I was ready for compromise but all parties wanted the other party to adopt their programmes in their entirety,” he said. “It wouldn't need much for this to work,” he added, stressing the need for humility and the setting aside of personal egos.
Since the snap parliamentary elections in July 2024 produced a hung parliament, France has faced growing political instability. The lack of a clear majority has left successive governments unable to advance legislation.
The previous government, led by François Bayrou, collapsed in September when the National Assembly rejected his austerity budget proposal, which sought to cut public spending by €44 billion ($51 billion; £38 billion).
France’s fiscal challenges remain acute, with a 2024 budget deficit amounting to 5.8% of GDP and a national debt level at 114% of GDP—making it the third highest in the eurozone behind Greece and Italy. This translates to nearly €50,000 of public debt per French citizen.
Lecornu’s resignation triggered immediate market concerns, sending Paris stock exchange indexes sharply lower on Monday morning as investors reacted to the renewed political instability.
Source: BBC
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