France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned just 26 days after taking office, marking yet another blow to President Emmanuel Macron’s increasingly fragile government.
The Élysée Palace confirmed the resignation shortly after Lecornu met with President Macron for an hour on Monday morning.
Lecornu’s departure comes less than a day after unveiling his new cabinet—largely a continuation of his predecessor François Bayrou’s team—which sparked widespread backlash across the political spectrum. Lawmakers in the National Assembly had vowed to reject the cabinet, criticising it for failing to reflect the country’s political reality.
The resignation intensifies growing calls from several parties for early parliamentary elections. Some opposition figures have even demanded President Macron step down, though he has repeatedly stated he will remain in office until the end of his term in 2027.
French politics has been mired in instability since snap elections in July 2024 led to a hung parliament. The resulting gridlock has made it difficult for any government to pass legislation or approve the national budget.
Lecornu, a close Macron ally and former Minister of the Armed Forces, was the fifth prime minister appointed in less than two years.
