France woke on Monday to new political turmoil after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu abruptly resigned less than 24 hours after naming his cabinet.
The presidency confirmed that Lecornu had met with President Emmanuel Macron and submitted his resignation, which was immediately accepted.
His departure comes just 26 days after his appointment, following the collapse of François Bayrou’s government in September.
Cabinet Choice Sparks Backlash
Observers say Lecornu’s quick fall was largely driven by criticism of his new cabinet. Many lawmakers and coalition allies complained that the lineup was either too conservative or too close to the outgoing Bayrou team — in short, lacking real change.
In a telling reaction, Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, called for a fresh election.
“There can be no return to stability without a return to the polls and a dissolution of the National Assembly,” Bardella said.
Meanwhile, Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the left-wing France Unbowed movement, urged the National Assembly to proceed with attempts to impeach President Macron.
Economists and political analysts were quick to weigh in. Former IMF economist Olivier Blanchard questioned whether the government had truly intended change at all.
“Hard to understand what was in Macron/Lecornu’s minds in presenting more or less the same government … But equally striking is the degree to which the discussion is about people, and not issues,” he wrote. Reuters
A Short-lived Premiership
Lecornu’s premiership now stands among the shortest in modern French history. Financial Times+2AP News+2 He was President Macron’s fifth choice for prime minister over two turbulent years. Reuters+1
His abrupt exit leaves Macron with little room for manoeuvre just two years before the end of his presidential term in 2027. Analysts now expect renewed pressure for snap elections or a sweeping reshuffle.
France’s political uncertainty is far from over. In a supercharged environment with opposition calling for dissolution and markets trembling, the next moves will likely shape the country’s trajectory into the next presidential race.
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