France has been thrown into renewed political uncertainty following the abrupt resignation of its new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, after less than one month in office—marking one of the shortest premierships in the history of the Fifth Republic.
Lecornu, 39, tendered his resignation on Monday after a meeting with President Emmanuel Macron, who accepted it, the Élysée Palace confirmed in a statement.
Speaking briefly outside the Hôtel de Matignon, the prime minister’s official residence, Lecornu declared, “You cannot be prime minister when the conditions are not met.”
His sudden departure came just two weeks after assuming office and a day after unveiling his cabinet. The move makes him the shortest-serving head of government in modern French history.
Lecornu, who previously served as defence minister, had been scheduled to present his general policy statement to the National Assembly on Tuesday. His resignation derailed that plan and deepened the political crisis facing President Macron’s administration.
The 39-year-old was appointed on September 9, following the collapse of François Bayrou’s government, which fell after losing a parliamentary vote of confidence. Lecornu became Macron’s seventh prime minister, tasked with easing legislative gridlock and tackling the country’s mounting fiscal challenges.
However, his efforts to forge a stable coalition faltered quickly amid resistance from both the left and right wings of parliament. Critics accused Lecornu of perpetuating Macron’s unpopular policies rather than ushering in a new direction.
Many opposition figures condemned his cabinet picks—particularly the decision to reappoint former finance minister Bruno Le Maire as defence minister—arguing that it signaled “continuity, not change.”
In his resignation speech, Lecornu explained his decision, saying, “The conditions were no longer met for me to exercise my functions and allow the government to face parliament.”
Opposition leaders wasted no time responding. Far-right National Rally president Jordan Bardella and party figurehead Marine Le Pen both demanded the dissolution of the National Assembly, while leftist firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon renewed his call for lawmakers to reopen impeachment proceedings against President Macron.
France has been mired in political instability since the snap elections of July 2024, which left parliament deeply fragmented. Successive prime ministers have struggled to pass legislation—particularly austerity measures aimed at reducing public debt.
Financial markets reacted swiftly to Lecornu’s resignation, with the Paris Stock Exchange dropping nearly two percent amid investor concerns over France’s political direction.
Despite growing pressure and speculation about his future, President Macron, whose mandate runs until 2027, has made it clear he has no plans to resign.
“France must remain stable, and I intend to ensure that,” the president was quoted as saying by aides close to the Élysée.
Lecornu’s departure now forces Macron to search yet again for a prime minister capable of navigating a divided legislature and restoring confidence in a government increasingly under strain.
