France was thrown into renewed political turmoil on Monday after newly appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned just hours after his cabinet was announced. President Emmanuel Macron accepted his resignation, deepening the nation’s ongoing political crisis.
Lecornu, who had been named prime minister last month, faced immediate backlash over a cabinet lineup that remained largely unchanged from his predecessor’s government.
The announcement, made late Sunday, drew widespread condemnation from across the political spectrum, underscoring France’s deepening divisions and the challenges facing Macron’s administration.
Lecornu's resignation marked the third consecutive prime minister to fall over the contentious spending plan, following the ousters of François Bayrou and Michel Barnier, both felled by parliamentary opposition to fiscal tightening measures.
France’s economic situation added further pressure. Official data released last week revealed that the country’s public debt has surged to a record high, with its debt-to-GDP ratio now the third highest in the European Union, behind only Greece and Italy. The figure stands at nearly double the 60 percent ceiling established under EU fiscal rules, AFP reported.
Previous governments had pushed the last three annual budgets through parliament without a formal vote, employing a controversial constitutional mechanism that bypasses legislative approval. The move, while legal, has been severely criticised by opposition parties as undemocratic.
Lecornu had vowed to change that pattern, pledging just last week that lawmakers would be allowed to vote on the 2026 budget bill. His abrupt resignation now places that promise and France’s broader financial roadmap back in limbo.
Political Deadlock Deepens
Macron’s government has been grappling with instability since he called snap parliamentary elections in mid-2024 in an attempt to strengthen his authority. The gamble spectacularly backfired, leaving his centrist alliance without a parliamentary majority and forcing his administration into continuous negotiations with rival blocs.
Monday’s resignation once again highlights the fragility of Macron’s political standing as he struggles to push through key fiscal reforms amid mounting public dissatisfaction and economic strain.
For now, the Élysée Palace faces the critical task of finding a replacement willing to navigate France’s increasingly fractured legislature and restore stability to a government teetering on the edge of paralysis.