French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigns after less than a month

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu Resigns After Less Than a Month in Office

In a stunning turn of events, Sébastien Lecornu has resigned as Prime Minister of France just 26 days after his appointment, plunging the country deeper into political uncertainty.

Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron and former Minister of the Armed Forces, was appointed on September 9, 2025, following the collapse of François Bayrou’s government. His resignation was confirmed on the morning of October 6, 2025, after a one-hour meeting with President Macron at the Élysée Palace.

Lecornu’s departure came less than 24 hours after unveiling his cabinet, which was met with fierce criticism across the political spectrum. Many lawmakers in the National Assembly condemned the lineup for its continuity with Bayrou’s administration, accusing Lecornu of failing to deliver the promised political “break.”

The cabinet retained several key figures from the previous government, including Bruno Le Maire, who was reassigned from Economy Minister to Defence, and Roland Lescure, who took over the Economy portfolio. Critics argued that the reshuffle was merely cosmetic and did not address the growing public frustration over economic stagnation, social inequality, and the rise of far-right influence.

In his resignation speech outside the Hôtel de Matignon, Lecornu cited the lack of political compromise and the “partisan appetites” of various factions in parliament. He lamented that all parties were behaving as though they held an absolute majority, making it impossible to build consensus.

 Lecornu emphasized his willingness to compromise but noted that each party demanded full adoption of its own agenda. He refused to invoke Article 49.3 of the French Constitution, which would have allowed him to pass legislation without a parliamentary vote, insisting instead on democratic deliberation.

The immediate trigger for Lecornu’s resignation appears to be the looming battle over the 2026 austerity budget. France’s public finances are in dire straits, with the deficit reaching 5.8% of GDP and national debt soaring to 114% of GDP, one of the highest in the eurozone. Lecornu was tasked with rallying support for a controversial fiscal plan aimed at slashing government spending by €44 billion.

However, entrenched opposition and internal dissent within Macron’s centrist alliance made this task insurmountable.

The resignation has intensified calls for early elections. Far-right leader Marine Le Pen declared that “the joke’s gone on long enough,” urging Macron to step down and accusing him of placing France in an untenable position. Jordan Bardella, another prominent figure from the National Rally, echoed these sentiments, stating that Lecornu’s resignation underscored the need for a dissolution of the National Assembly. Despite mounting pressure, Macron has reiterated his intention to serve out his term until 20274.

Lecornu’s exit marks the fifth prime ministerial resignation in under two years and the seventh under Macron’s presidency, making it one of the shortest-lived governments in the history of the Fifth Republic. His departure not only reflects the deep fractures within France’s political landscape but also signals a broader crisis of governance.

With no clear successor named and the National Assembly in deadlock, France faces an uncertain path forward as it grapples with economic challenges and political fragmentation.