PARIS, FRANCE: In a stunning political twist, France’s newly appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned on Monday — just hours after unveiling his cabinet — plunging President Emmanuel Macron’s government into deeper crisis and raising fears of a looming power vacuum.
Lecornu’s resignation marks one of the shortest tenures in French political history. Appointed less than a day earlier, his departure followed immediate backlash from lawmakers and allies who accused him of recycling old faces rather than introducing the “fresh direction” he had promised.
Sources close to the Élysée Palace say tensions had been mounting since Sunday night, as multiple political blocs — from the far-right to the left — rejected Lecornu’s team as a continuation of Macron’s unpopular policies. The most controversial move, analysts noted, was the appointment of Bruno Le Maire as defense minister, sparking outrage across opposition ranks.
In his brief statement, Lecornu said that the “conditions for governance no longer exist,” adding that he could not lead a divided parliament unwilling to compromise. His words echoed a growing sentiment among French citizens disillusioned with Macron’s leadership and the government’s inability to stabilize.
President Macron, reportedly caught off guard, accepted Lecornu’s resignation and instructed him to hold emergency consultations within 48 hours to seek a potential path out of the political gridlock. However, pressure is building for the President to dissolve the National Assembly and call for new elections — a move that could reshape France’s political landscape.
The resignation sent immediate shockwaves through financial markets, with the euro dipping and France’s CAC 40 index sliding amid investor concern over mounting political instability. Meanwhile, opposition leaders, including Marine Le Pen, seized the moment to demand snap polls, accusing Macron of losing control of the nation’s direction.
As France braces for yet another political showdown, the resignation of Lecornu has exposed deep fractures at the heart of Macron’s presidency — and left Europe watching closely as the crisis unfolds.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.