France’s Newly Appointed Prime Minister Resigns

France’s new Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned just hours after unveiling his cabinet, plunging the country deeper into political uncertainty.

Lecornu’s unexpected and unprecedented resignation on Monday came amid growing threats from both allies and opposition parties to bring down his government. The shock announcement sent French stocks and the euro tumbling as markets reacted to the latest episode in France’s escalating political crisis.

After weeks of consultations with political parties, Lecornu — a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron — had only on Sunday announced his list of ministers, with the cabinet’s first meeting scheduled for Monday afternoon.

However, the new cabinet lineup was met with widespread backlash. Critics from across the political spectrum accused Lecornu of leaning too far to the right, while others said his government lacked ideological direction. The growing discontent raised questions about the durability of Macron’s administration, which has struggled to command a majority in France’s deeply fragmented parliament.

According to a statement from the Elysée Palace, “Mr. Sébastien Lecornu has submitted the resignation of his Government to the President of the Republic, who has accepted it.”

Lecornu, appointed only last month, was Macron’s fifth prime minister in two years — a reflection of the volatility that has gripped French politics since the president’s 2022 re-election.