FILE – Then French Protection minister Sebastien Lecornu, proper, and France’s President Emmanuel Macron speak on the finish of an handle by the president to military leaders in Paris Sunday July 13, 2025.
Ludovic Marin/Pool AFP/AP
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Ludovic Marin/Pool AFP/AP
PARIS — Dealing with criticism from all sides, France’s new prime minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned lower than 24 hours after naming his authorities and after lower than a month in workplace, plunging the nation right into a deep political disaster.
The French presidency mentioned in an announcement Monday that President Emmanuel Macron has accepted his resignation. Lecornu had changed his predecessor François Bayrou to grow to be France’s fourth prime minister in exactly a yr.
“It would take little for it to work,” Lecornu mentioned in his resignation speech. “By being more selfless for many, by knowing how to show humility. One must always put one’s country before one’s party.”
Macron’s opponents instantly tried to capitalize on the surprising resignation, with the far-right Nationwide Rally calling on him to both name for brand spanking new snap elections or resign.
“This raises a question for the President of the Republic: can he continue to resist the legislature dissolution? We have reached the end of the road,” far-right chief Marine Le Pen mentioned. “There is no other solution. The only wise course of action in these circumstances is to return to the polls.”
On the far left, France Unbowed additionally requested for Macron’s departure.
The resignation rattled buyers, sending the CAC-40 index of main French firms plunging. The index was down by practically 2% on its Friday shut.
Ministers appointed simply the earlier evening discovered themselves within the weird scenario of changing into caretaker ministers — saved in place solely to handle day-to-day affairs till a brand new authorities is fashioned — earlier than a few of them had even been formally put in in workplace.
French outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who resigned only a day after naming his authorities, walks again after delivering his assertion on the Resort Matignon in Paris, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025.
Stephane Mahe/Reuters Pool/AP
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Stephane Mahe/Reuters Pool/AP
Agnès Pannier-Runacher, the newly reappointed minister for ecology, posted on X: “I despair of this circus.”
Lecornu’s selection of ministers has been criticized throughout the political spectrum, notably his determination to convey again former Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire to serve on the protection ministry, with critics saying that below his watch France’s public deficit soared. Lecornu’s primary job would have been to go a price range as France is confronted with a large debt disaster. On the finish of the primary quarter of 2025, France’s public debt stood at 3.346 trillion euros ($3.9 trillion), or 114% of GDP. Debt servicing stays a serious price range merchandise, accounting for round 7% of state spending.
Different key positions remained largely unchanged from the earlier cupboard, with conservative Bruno Retailleau staying on as inside minister answerable for policing and inner safety, Jean-Noël Barrot remaining as overseas minister and Gérald Darmanin protecting the justice ministry.
French politics have been in disarray since Macron referred to as snap elections final yr that produced a deeply fragmented legislature. Far-right and left-wing lawmakers maintain over 320 seats on the Nationwide Meeting, whereas the centrists and allied conservatives maintain 210.
Looking for consensus on the Nationwide Meeting, Lecornu consulted with all political forces and commerce unions earlier than forming his Cupboard. He additionally vowed that he wouldn’t make use of a particular constitutional energy his predecessors had used to power budgets by Parliament with out a vote and would as a substitute search compromise with lawmakers from the left and the precise.
