Prime Minister Lecornu Resigns After 14 Hours in Office
France entered a new phase of political turmoil on Monday as newly appointed Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his cabinet resigned just hours after being sworn in — making it the shortest-lived government in modern French history. The sudden collapse shocked markets, driving French stocks and the euro sharply lower.
Political Turmoil Deepens
Lecornu’s unexpected resignation came after both allies and rivals threatened to bring down his government. Appointed only 27 days ago, Lecornu became President Emmanuel Macron’s fifth prime minister in two years, highlighting the deepening political instability that has gripped France since Macron’s re-election in 2022.
The Elysee Palace confirmed the resignation early Monday. “Mr. Sebastien Lecornu has submitted the resignation of his Government to the President of the Republic, who has accepted it,” the statement said.
Dispute Over Cabinet Appointments
Lecornu had spent weeks consulting political parties before unveiling his new cabinet on Sunday. The ministers were expected to hold their first meeting on Monday afternoon. However, the line-up immediately angered both supporters and opponents. Many criticized it for being too conservative, while others claimed it was not right-wing enough, reflecting the fragmented nature of France’s parliament where no group holds a clear majority.
Opposition Calls for New Elections
The resignation renewed calls from opposition parties for fresh parliamentary elections. Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella demanded that Macron dissolve parliament, saying, “There can be no return to stability without a return to the polls.”
Meanwhile, Mathilde Panot of the hard-left France Unbowed declared, “Lecornu resigns. Three prime ministers defeated in less than a year. The countdown has begun. Macron must go.”
Market Reaction
The resignation rattled financial markets. Paris’ CAC 40 index fell by 2%, marking its sharpest one-day drop since August, and becoming the worst-performing stock index in Europe. Major banks including BNP Paribas, Societe Generale, and Credit Agricole saw their shares tumble between 5.7% and 7.3%.
The euro also weakened, sliding 0.7% to $1.1665 amid the growing political uncertainty.
A Crisis of Governance
Political analysts warn that France is facing one of its deepest crises since the Fifth Republic was founded in 1958. The constitution, designed to promote stability through a strong presidency and parliamentary majority, is now struggling to function in an increasingly polarized political landscape.
Since his rise to power in 2017, Macron has reshaped French politics, but he now leads a divided parliament where no single party can form a stable coalition. France, traditionally unaccustomed to coalition politics, finds itself struggling to build consensus — raising doubts about the country’s ability to govern effectively.
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