France’s recently appointed Prime Minister, Sebastien Lecornu, and his administration tendered their resignations yesterday, shortly after Lecornu unveiled his cabinet lineup. This development marked the swiftest downfall of a government in contemporary French history, exacerbating the nation’s political turmoil.
The abrupt resignation followed mounting pressure from both allies and adversaries to dismantle the nascent government, prompting Lecornu to cite an inability to carry out his duties effectively. The announcement triggered a significant decline in stock markets and the value of the euro.
In response to the latest turn of events, opposition parties swiftly called for President Emmanuel Macron’s resignation or the immediate organization of a snap parliamentary election.
Lecornu, who became Macron’s fifth prime minister within a span of two years, held the position for a mere 27 days. His government’s tenure lasted a mere 14 hours, underscoring the stark divisions within the French parliament at a time when the country, as the eurozone’s second-largest economy, grapples with financial restructuring challenges.
The political landscape in France has been marked by escalating instability since Macron’s re-election in 2022. Macron’s decision to instigate a snap parliamentary election last year further deepened the crisis by fostering a more fragmented parliament.