France has been plunged into fresh political turmoil after Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned just 26 days after taking office — making him the nation’s fifth leader in less than two years.
Lecornu’s departure, announced on Monday morning, came barely a day after he presented his new cabinet, which immediately drew fire from nearly every corner of the political spectrum. His choices — especially the appointment of Bruno Le Maire as defense minister — sparked fierce criticism in parliament, with opposition parties threatening to block his government before it could even get started.
By the afternoon, Le Maire had stepped down from the proposed cabinet in an attempt to ease tensions. Just hours later, President Emmanuel Macron asked Lecornu to come up with a “stability plan” by Wednesday evening in a desperate bid to prevent the government from spiraling further into crisis.
A long-time Macron loyalist and former armed forces minister, Lecornu was widely seen as the president’s last dependable option after two previous governments fell apart within months. He replaced François Bayrou, whose administration collapsed in September when lawmakers rejected his austerity-driven budget. Bayrou himself had succeeded Michel Barnier, who was forced out following a no-confidence vote late last year.
Speaking outside the Hôtel de Matignon, the prime minister’s official residence, Lecornu voiced frustration at what he called the “partisan appetites” dominating French politics.
> “Every party behaves as if it holds an absolute majority,” he said. “I was open to compromise, but everyone wanted their full agenda adopted. Until some egos are set aside, nothing will move forward.”
The turmoil stems largely from Macron’s decision to call snap parliamentary elections in 2024, a gamble that backfired. Instead of producing a stable majority, the vote left the National Assembly deeply divided among left-wing, right-wing, and far-right factions — all unwilling to cooperate.
According to insiders at the Élysée Palace, Macron is now considering three possible moves: appointing another prime minister, dissolving the National Assembly to trigger new elections, or — though least likely — stepping down himself.
Most analysts believe the president will eventually opt for new elections, even if that risks handing a major victory to Marine Le Pen’s National Rally and delivering a serious blow to Macron’s centrist alliance.
Beyond the political gridlock, France faces mounting economic problems. The public deficit has soared to 5.8% of GDP, and national debt has climbed past 114%, one of the highest levels in the eurozone. Investor confidence has already started to falter, putting added pressure on Macron to find a path forward and restore stability.
Lecornu’s brief and stormy stint as prime minister may have ended, but it highlights a sobering reality: in a France more divided than ever, holding the political center together has become nearly impossible.