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In a stunning blow to France’s already fragile government, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned on Monday after a mere 28 days in office—the shortest tenure in modern French history. The 43-year-old centrist, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, stepped down just hours after unveiling a new cabinet on Sunday evening, citing insurmountable opposition from across the political spectrum. This marks the fifth prime ministerial resignation under Macron in less than three years, plunging the country deeper into uncertainty amid a hung parliament and looming budget battles.
Lecornu, who took office on September 10 following the collapse of his predecessor François Bayrou’s administration over a contentious austerity budget, had promised a “rupture” from past policies to stabilize the nation. But his government lasted only 836 minutes before crumbling under backlash. The cabinet largely recycled ministers from the previous lineup, including the controversial Bruno Le Maire, the former finance chief widely criticized for overseeing France’s public debt balloon to $4 trillion. Right-wing leader Bruno Retailleau, retained as interior minister, expressed outrage over the allocations, accusing Macron’s team of hoarding too many posts despite their waning popularity.
The resignation triggered immediate market jitters, with French stocks dipping and the euro weakening as investors fretted over the impasse. Far-left firebrand Jean-Luc Mélenchon called for Macron’s impeachment, while the far-right National Rally demanded snap elections or the president’s exit, declaring “Macronism is dead on its feet.” Even centrist allies like former PM Gabriel Attal voiced bafflement at the Élysée’s decisions, underscoring the depth of the rift.
Speaking outside the Hôtel de Matignon, Lecornu lambasted “partisan appetites” in the fractured National Assembly, where no single bloc holds a majority since the inconclusive 2024 elections. “One must always put country before party,” he said, but added that the “conditions to remain prime minister” simply weren’t met. Macron, cornered by the chaos, has tasked Lecornu with serving as caretaker for 48 hours to broker last-ditch talks with party leaders, aiming for a “platform of action and stability” by Wednesday evening. Failure could force Macron to appoint a sixth PM—potentially from outside his camp—or dissolve parliament for fresh elections, a risky move that might empower extremes.
This crisis isn’t just procedural; it’s constitutional, exposing flaws in France’s semi-presidential system when parliaments are deadlocked. With the 2026 budget debate stalled and public services at risk under a potential “special law” extending last year’s spending, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Analysts warn of prolonged paralysis, echoing Italy’s past instabilities but with France’s added economic pressures—deficits hovering at 5-5.4% of GDP and strikes over austerity still fresh.
As Macron navigates this minefield ahead of the 2027 presidential race, the question lingers: Can he salvage his legacy, or is this the unraveling of his centrist project? For now, France holds its breath.
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