This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be

You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/oct/06/france-pm-sebastien-lecornu-resigns

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
France’s PM resigns after less than a month amid widespread criticism of new cabinet Macron makes last-ditch effort to retain French PM after rapid resignation
(about 1 hour later)
Sébastien Lecornu quits, blaming political ‘egos’, after Emmanuel Macron unveiled largely unchanged cabinet lineup French president asks Sébastien Lecornu to stay for 48 more hours after PM quit complaining of political ‘egos’
Explainer: Why has France’s PM resigned – and what could happen next? Explainer: What happened on a chaotic day in French politics – and what could happen next?
France has been plunged into deep political crisis after the new prime minister and his government resigned just hours after the cabinet was appointed, raising serious doubts about President Emmanuel Macron’s ability to govern the country. Hours after France’s new prime minister resigned less than a month after he was appointed, Emmanuel Macron has asked him to stay on for two more days in a last-ditch effort to chart a way out of the country’s rapidly deepening political crisis.
Sébastien Lecornu, who was appointed 27 days ago, became the third prime minister of the EU’s second-biggest country to quit in a year when he tendered his resignation on Monday morning, hours before his first cabinet meeting. The French president on Monday evening gave Sébastien Lecornu – who had earlier become the third prime minister of the EU’s second-biggest economy to quit within a year – 48 hours to “conduct final negotiations … to define a platform for action and stability”.
Lecornu made what he called a “spontaneous” speech on the steps of the prime minister’s residence in Paris, appearing to place the blame on opposition political parties in France, who he said had not wanted to compromise. Lecornu said he would inform Macron by Wednesday evening “whether this is possible or not”. Government sources told French media that Macron would “assume his responsibilities” if the effort failed. It was not immediately clear what this might entail.
On Monday morning Lecornu made what he called a “spontaneous” speech on the steps of the prime minister’s residence in Paris, appearing to blame his resignation on opposition political parties in France, who he said had not wanted to compromise.
Criticising political “egos”, he said parties continued to behave with “partisan appetites”. He said he had been “ready to compromise, but each political party wanted the other political party to adopt its entire programme”.Criticising political “egos”, he said parties continued to behave with “partisan appetites”. He said he had been “ready to compromise, but each political party wanted the other political party to adopt its entire programme”.
Speaking in the courtyard of Matignon palace, the prime minister’s headquarters, the 39-year-old former defence minister, the shortest-lived premier in modern French history, insisted that he had worked for weeks to forge a viable path forward.Speaking in the courtyard of Matignon palace, the prime minister’s headquarters, the 39-year-old former defence minister, the shortest-lived premier in modern French history, insisted that he had worked for weeks to forge a viable path forward.
“It would not take much for it to work,” Lecornu, whose cabinet had been unveiled barely 12 hours previously, added. “By being more selfless for many, by knowing how to show humility … One must always put one’s country before one’s party.” “It would not take much for it to work,” added Lecornu, whose cabinet had been unveiled barely 12 hours previously. “By being more selfless for many, by knowing how to show humility … One must always put one’s country before one’s party.”
Macron must now choose between appointing a new prime minister – someone capable of passing a budget for this year – or dissolving the national assembly and calling fresh legislative elections. He has consistently said he is reluctant to hold another vote, which polls suggest would probably return another divided parliament – or potentially usher in a far-right government. Lecornu’s decision had left Macron facing a choice between appointing a new prime minister – someone capable of passing a budget for this year – or dissolving the national assembly and calling fresh legislative elections, options that could still be available to him after Wednesday.
He has also repeatedly ruled out standing down before the next presidential election in 2027. Late on Monday afternoon the president had yet to comment publicly on the crisis. He has consistently said he is reluctant to hold another vote, which polls suggest would return another divided parliament or possibly usher in a far-right government, and has also said he will not resign until the end of his mandate in 2027.
Lecornu had faced furious criticism from opposition politicians as soon as the new government was revealed to be virtually unchanged since his immediate predecessor, François Bayrou, was forced to quit last month over proposed budget cuts. Lecornu had faced furious criticism from opposition politicians as soon as the new government was revealed on Sunday evening to be virtually unchanged since his immediate predecessor, François Bayrou, was forced to quit last month over proposed budget cuts.
The proposed new government was dominated by Macron’s allies. Opposition parties said Lecornu had backtracked on the “profound break” with past politics that he had promised when he took over from Bayrou, who was ousted on 9 September.The proposed new government was dominated by Macron’s allies. Opposition parties said Lecornu had backtracked on the “profound break” with past politics that he had promised when he took over from Bayrou, who was ousted on 9 September.
In his address outside Matignon, Lecornu insisted his promise not to resort to article 49.3 of the constitution – used by his predecessors to push legislation through without a parliamentary vote – represented a major break with recent years.
His announcement alarmed markets, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio is the EU’s third-highest and almost twice the ceiling permitted under EU rules, as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.His announcement alarmed markets, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio is the EU’s third-highest and almost twice the ceiling permitted under EU rules, as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.
Lecornu’s departure compounds a political crisis that has rocked France since Macron dissolved parliament last summer and called legislative elections that ended in a hung parliament divided into three blocs: the left, the far right and Macron’s own centre-right alliance, with no group coming close to a clear majority. Lecornu’s attempted departure compounded a political crisis that has rocked France since Macron dissolved parliament last summer and called legislative elections that ended in a hung parliament divided into three blocs: the left, the far right and Macron’s own centre-right alliance, with no group coming close to a clear majority.
The far-right National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella called on Monday for the president to dissolve parliament again, while the radical left France Unbowed (LFI) reiterated its longstanding call for the president himself to step down.The far-right National Rally (RN) of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella called on Monday for the president to dissolve parliament again, while the radical left France Unbowed (LFI) reiterated its longstanding call for the president himself to step down.
Le Pen said it would be “wise” for Macron to resign, but also urged snap legislative polls as “absolutely necessary”. Bardella said he expected the legislative elections to take place and added: “The RN will obviously be ready to govern.”Le Pen said it would be “wise” for Macron to resign, but also urged snap legislative polls as “absolutely necessary”. Bardella said he expected the legislative elections to take place and added: “The RN will obviously be ready to govern.”
Bardella, the RN’s president, said: “There cannot be a return to stability without a return to the ballot box. It was very clearly Emmanuel Macron who decided this government himself. He has understood nothing of the political situation we are in.”
Sign up to This is EuropeSign up to This is Europe
The most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environmentThe most pressing stories and debates for Europeans – from identity to economics to the environment
after newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotion
Bardella, the RN’s president, said: “There cannot be a return to stability without a return to the ballot box. It was very clearly Emmanuel Macron who decided this government himself. He has understood nothing of the political situation we are in.”
Mathilde Panot of LFI said: “The countdown has begun. Macron must go.” David Lisnard, of the conservative Les Républicains (LR) party, which has thus far backed Macron as part of the governing alliance, was also among those who also called on the president to leave.Mathilde Panot of LFI said: “The countdown has begun. Macron must go.” David Lisnard, of the conservative Les Républicains (LR) party, which has thus far backed Macron as part of the governing alliance, was also among those who also called on the president to leave.
LR’s vice-president, Francois-Xavier Bellamy, said the party was not going to offer Macron and his allies “a final lap”. The party’s leader and outgoing interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, was more cautious, saying the ball was now in Macron’s camp and he must speak soon.LR’s vice-president, Francois-Xavier Bellamy, said the party was not going to offer Macron and his allies “a final lap”. The party’s leader and outgoing interior minister, Bruno Retailleau, was more cautious, saying the ball was now in Macron’s camp and he must speak soon.
Analysts expect the president to seek to appoint a new prime minister, who would be the eighth since he was first elected in 2017. He could conceivably try to find a non-party political technocrat, or possibly look towards a figure from the moderate left.
Pierre Jouvet, general secretary of the centre-left Socialist party (PS), said after a party meeting that it was “not calling for dissolution or the departure of the head of state, but for a solution”. That could come in for the form of “appointment of a prime minister from the left, open to compromise”, Jouvet said.Pierre Jouvet, general secretary of the centre-left Socialist party (PS), said after a party meeting that it was “not calling for dissolution or the departure of the head of state, but for a solution”. That could come in for the form of “appointment of a prime minister from the left, open to compromise”, Jouvet said.
Mujtaba Rahman, managing director for Europe at the Eurasia Group risk analysis firm, said Macron was likely to “appoint a new prime minister and challenge the disparate far right and left wing opposition to cooperate, to avoid a profound fiscal and political crisis”. Both Macron’s allies and opponents had denounced the new cabinet lineup, with the return of Bruno Le Maire, a Macron ally and former economy minister, to government as defence minister particularly enraging politicians across the spectrum who saw him the incarnation of Macron’s economic policies.
Both Macron’s allies and opponents denounced the new cabinet lineup, with the return of Bruno Le Maire, a Macron ally who had served as economy minister for seven years, to government as defence minister particularly enraging politicians across the spectrum. Le Maire said on Monday evening he was leaving the government in a bid to end the crisis. “Under these conditions, I proposed to the president to withdraw from the government without delay,” he posted. “The president has accepted my proposal.”
They saw that appointment as a sign that there would be no questioning or change of Macron’s pro-business stance. Lecornu’s two immediate predecessors, Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were ousted over Macron-approved plans for an austerity budget. Lecornu’s two immediate predecessors, Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were ousted over Macron-approved plans for an austerity budget. Pressure on the president to come up with a solution is mounting fast, with a budget for next year needing to be agreed within weeks.
Pressure on the president to come up with a solution is mounting fast, with a budget for next year needing to be agreed within weeks.