Sebastien Lecornu became the third prime minister to quit in under a year, deepening France’s political instability|@SebLecornu|X
Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned less than 24 hours after forming his cabinet, making his government the shortest-lived in modern French history.
French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation on Monday amid turmoil over cabinet composition and pressure from opposition parties demanding snap elections.
Lecornu, a close ally of Macron, became the third prime minister to quit in under a year, deepening France’s political instability.
He said he tried to build consensus for France’s 2025 budget but blamed “partisan appetites” for blocking progress. His exit followed growing doubts about a spending plan to address the country’s rising debt.
Markets reacted sharply
Paris’ CAC 40 index dropped over 1.3%, reflecting renewed investor anxiety over France’s leadership crisis.
Polls show three-quarters of French citizens supported Lecornu’s resignation, while nearly half blamed Macron for the turmoil.
Mounting pressure on Macron
Opposition leaders are calling for Macron to resign or call snap elections, with the far-right National Rally expected to gain ground.
France’s political impasse is driven by a fractured parliament and rising debt of 113.9% of GDP.