The French PM Sébastien Lecornu Steps Down Following Less Than a Month in Office
The nation's PM Lecornu has resigned, less than a day after his government team was announced.
The French presidency confirmed the news after the Prime Minister met President Emmanuel Macron for an 60-minute discussion on the start of the week.
This shock move comes only 26 days after he was named premier following the collapse of the previous government of François Bayrou.
Political factions in the legislature had sharply condemned the makeup of his ministerial team, which was largely unchanged to the previous one, and vowed to reject it.
Demands for Snap Polls and Government Unrest
A number of factions are now calling for new parliamentary polls, with certain voices demanding the President to also leave office - even though he has consistently affirmed he will not resign before his time in office finishes in 2027.
"Macron needs to choose: dissolution of parliament or resignation," said Chenu, one of leading figures of the National Rally.
The outgoing PM - the former armed forces minister and a Macron loyalist - was the fifth French PM in less than 24 months.
Context of Political Turmoil
France's political landscape has been markedly turbulent since mid-2024, when snap parliamentary elections resulted in a deadlocked assembly.
This has made it difficult for each PM to garner the necessary support to enact new laws.
Bayrou's government was voted down in September after lawmakers voted against his austerity budget, which aimed to reduce public expenditure by $51 billion.
Financial Pressures and Market Reaction
France's deficit hit 5.8% of GDP in 2024 and its national debt is 114% of GDP.
That is the number three debt level in the eurozone after Italy and Greece, and amounting to almost €50,000 per French citizen.
Stocks fell sharply in the French stock market after the announcement about the PM emerged on the start of the week.
