France is facing renewed political uncertainty after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, just 27 days into his tenure. This makes him the shortest-serving prime minister in modern French history. Lecornu’s resignation came hours after he unveiled his new cabinet, which was largely identical to that of his predecessor, François Bayrou.

The decision to step down was made after Lecornu faced fierce criticism from opposition parties and coalition partners, who described his cabinet as “uninspired” and “politically weak”. Lecornu’s government was expected to face significant challenges, including passing a strict austerity budget in a deeply divided parliament.

In a statement, Lecornu cited the inability to work with political parties as the reason for his resignation, saying, “You can’t be Prime Minister when the conditions aren’t met.” He expressed frustration over partisan politics and the lack of willingness to compromise.

The resignation has sparked calls for President Emmanuel Macron to step down or dissolve the National Assembly. Marine Le Pen’s far-right National Rally party demanded fresh elections, stating, “Macronism is dead on its feet. Macron must now choose: dissolution [of the Assemblée Nationale] or resignation, and quickly!”

Reactions from French Politicians

– Marine Le Pen: Called for Macron’s resignation and fresh elections, stating that Macron has lost his grip on power.
– Jean-Luc Mélenchon: Demanded a motion to remove Macron from office, while Mathilde Panot declared, “The countdown has begun. Macron must go”.
– Jordan Bardella: Urged Macron to dissolve the National Assembly and call for snap elections, emphasizing that there cannot be stability without a return to the ballot box.

The Paris stock exchange reacted negatively to the news, falling over 2% shortly after the announcement. The resignation has plunged France into fresh political turmoil, with President Macron facing renewed uncertainty and pressure to resolve the country’s political deadlock.¹ ²