France has been thrown into fresh political uncertainty as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, just hours after unveiling his cabinet.
President Emmanuel Macron has reportedly accepted his resignation, the Élysée Palace confirmed.
Lecornu, who previously served as defence minister, was appointed prime minister last month to help steer France through deep political divisions and worsening fiscal challenges.
However, his decision to retain much of the previous cabinet sparked backlash from both the opposition and members of Macron’s own political camp.
“The president has taken note of the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu,” the presidency said in a statement, describing the move as “a step toward restoring confidence and stability.”
Lecornu had been preparing to present a tough austerity budget for 2026, a task made more difficult by France’s fragmented parliament.
His two immediate predecessors, François Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were both forced out after facing strong opposition from lawmakers over spending plans.
Analysts say France’s public debt—now one of the highest in the European Union after Greece and Italy—has deepened the crisis. The country’s debt-to-GDP ratio recently climbed to nearly twice the EU’s permitted 60 percent ceiling.
For the past three years, Macron’s administration had bypassed parliament to pass annual budgets through a controversial constitutional provision.
But Lecornu had promised a more democratic process. “I will ensure that lawmakers debate and vote on the budget—France needs transparency and trust,” he said in a televised interview last week.
The political turmoil follows Macron’s failed gamble in mid-2024 when he called snap parliamentary elections in an attempt to strengthen his coalition.
The move instead left his party in a minority, resulting in months of legislative deadlock.
Political observers warn that Lecornu’s exit may further weaken Macron’s grip on power. “The resignation exposes the depth of France’s political paralysis,” said political analyst Claire Dubois.
“Without a stable majority, Macron will find it increasingly difficult to govern effectively.”
