French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu Resigns After Less Than a Month in Office
France is in the grips of a deepening political crisis as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, less than a month after taking office. The French presidency confirmed that President Emmanuel Macron accepted Lecornu's resignation. The surprise move plunges the country further into political deadlock, marking Lecornu's tenure as the shortest in French history.
Background
Lecornu was appointed Prime Minister on September 9, following the collapse of the previous government led by François Bayrou. His appointment was met with criticism from both the opposition and the right, creating a challenging political climate for the new Prime Minister.
Unchanged Cabinet Lineup Leads to Backlash
Lecornu's resignation came less than 24 hours after he unveiled his largely unchanged cabinet lineup. The new cabinet, keeping 13 of 18 ministers from the toppled Bayrou team, was met with fierce criticism across the political spectrum. This backlash led to a lack of support for the new cabinet in a deeply divided parliament, contributing to Lecornu's decision to step down.
It would take little for it to work,
Lecornu said in his resignation speech. By being more selfless for many, by knowing how to show humility. One must always put one’s country before one’s party.
Political Implications and Reactions
The sudden resignation has sparked calls for Macron to dissolve the Parliament or call for early elections. The far-right National Rally has capitalized on the turmoil, calling for new snap elections. The Paris Stock Exchange also reacted to the news, slipping upon the announcement of Lecornu's resignation.
Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, a contender to succeed Macron, described the situation as 'distressing'. The remarks by Philippe, a leading centre-right contender to succeed Macron, came as the outgoing Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, began a last-ditch effort to rally cross-party support for a cabinet to pull France out of its deepening political deadlock,
reported The Guardian.
Current Status and Future Prospects
The resignation of Lecornu marks the end of the shortest-lived government in modern French history and adds to the political instability in France. Following the resignation, Macron now faces three options: to appoint a new prime minister, to hold parliamentary elections, or to resign, according to British newspaper The Times.
Lecornu's resignation has left France grappling with a political crisis, making it the fourth time in barely a year that the country has been left without a prime minister. This continued instability poses a significant challenge for Macron's presidency and the future of French politics.