The French PM Lecornu Resigns Following Under a Month in Office
The French Premier Sébastien Lecornu has resigned, shortly after his government team was unveiled.
The French presidency issued a statement after the Prime Minister met President Emmanuel Macron for an meeting on Monday morning.
This shock move comes only under four weeks after Lecornu was named premier following the downfall of the previous government of François Bayrou.
Various groups in the French parliament had sharply condemned the structure of the new government, which was very close to the previous one, and vowed to reject it.
Demands for Snap Polls and Government Unrest
Multiple political groups are now clamouring for a snap election, with certain voices calling for Macron to step down as well - even though he has consistently affirmed he will not resign before his mandate concludes in 2027.
"Macron needs to pick: parliament's dissolution or resignation," said Chenu, one of prominent members of the far right National Rally (RN).
Lecornu - the former armed forces minister and a ally of the President - was the fifth French PM in under two years.
Context of Government Crisis
The nation's governance has been very volatile since last summer, when early legislative polls resulted in a hung parliament.
This has made it difficult for any prime minister to secure enough backing to enact new laws.
The former cabinet was voted down in autumn after lawmakers voted against his austerity budget, which aimed to cut state costs by €44bn.
Economic Pressures and Market Response
The French shortfall hit nearly 6% of the economy in 2024 and its government debt is 114% of GDP.
That is the third largest government debt in the eurozone after Italy and Greece, and equivalent to almost 50,000 euros per person.
Markets declined in the Paris exchange after the news of Lecornu's resignation was released on the start of the week.
