The French PM Sébastien Lecornu Tenders Resignation Following Less Than a 30-Day Period in Office
France's Prime Minister Lecornu has handed in his resignation, less than a day after his ministers was presented.
The presidential office issued a statement after the Prime Minister met President Emmanuel Macron for an 60-minute discussion on Monday morning.
This shock move comes only 26 days after Lecornu was appointed prime minister following the downfall of the prior administration of his predecessor.
Political factions in the French parliament had sharply condemned the composition of the new government, which was very close to the previous one, and threatened to vote it down.
Calls for Snap Polls and Political Instability
Several parties are now demanding a snap election, with some demanding the President to step down as well - despite the fact that he has repeatedly stated he will not resign before his time in office finishes in 2027.
"Macron needs to choose: parliament's dissolution or resignation," said Chenu, one of prominent members of the far right National Rally (RN).
Lecornu - the ex-defense chief and a ally of the President - was France's fifth prime minister in a two-year span.
Background of Political Turmoil
France's political landscape has been highly unstable since July 2024, when sudden national voting resulted in a deadlocked assembly.
This has made it difficult for any prime minister to garner the necessary support to enact new laws.
Bayrou's government was rejected in last month after the assembly voted against his spending cuts plan, which aimed to slash government spending by €44bn.
Financial Pressures and Market Response
The French shortfall hit nearly 6% of the economy in 2024 and its national debt is 114% of GDP.
That is the third highest public debt in the eurozone after two southern European nations, and equal to almost €50,000 per French citizen.
Share prices dropped in the French stock market after the announcement about the PM emerged on the start of the week.
