France's Premier Sébastien Lecornu Steps Down Following Under a Month in the Role
France's Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned, shortly after his government team was presented.
The Elysée palace confirmed the news after the Prime Minister met President Emmanuel Macron for an 60-minute discussion on Monday morning.
This unexpected development comes only under four weeks after he was appointed prime minister following the dissolution of the prior administration of his predecessor.
Parties across the board in the legislature had strongly opposed the composition of his ministerial team, which was very close to Bayrou's, and promised to block its approval.
Demands for Early Elections and Political Unrest
A number of factions are now clamouring for a snap election, with some calling for Macron to resign too - although he has consistently affirmed he will not leave before his term ends in the year 2027.
"Macron needs to choose: dissolution of parliament or leaving office," said Sébastien Chenu, one of leading figures of the RN party.
Lecornu - the ex-defense chief and a Macron loyalist - was the fifth French PM in under two years.
Background of Political Turmoil
France's political landscape has been markedly turbulent since last summer, when snap parliamentary elections resulted in a no clear majority.
This has made it difficult for each PM to secure enough backing to approve legislation.
The former cabinet was voted down in last month after the assembly voted against his spending cuts plan, which aimed to slash government spending by 44 billion euros.
Financial Pressures and Market Reaction
The French shortfall hit nearly 6% of the economy in 2024 and its public debt is 114 percent of GDP.
That is the number three debt level in the euro area after Greece and Italy, and amounting to almost 50,000 euros per person.
Share prices dropped in the Paris exchange after the resignation report emerged on Monday morning.
