French President Emmanuel Macron has given Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu 48 hours to rescue his administration after Lecornu abruptly resigned less than a month into office, deepening France’s political turmoil.
Lecornu, who stepped down on Monday just 14 hours after unveiling his cabinet, was asked by Macron to “ensure the stability of the country” and present a plan by Wednesday, according to the presidential office. The embattled prime minister confirmed on X that he had agreed to hold final talks with political factions before reporting back to Macron.
The president’s office said Macron was ready to “assume his responsibilities” if Lecornu failed, a phrase widely interpreted as a hint at possible snap legislative elections.
Lecornu’s short-lived government faced immediate backlash, particularly over the appointment of former finance minister Bruno Le Maire as defence minister. The right-wing Republicans (LR) party, angered by the move, described it as a continuation of Macron’s unpopular economic agenda.
Amid mounting pressure, Le Maire announced on X that he would step down “to calm the political situation.”
The crisis has drawn criticism even from within Macron’s centrist ranks. Former prime minister Gabriel Attal said, “I no longer understand his decisions,” noting that Macron had tried the same leadership reshuffle strategy three times in a year.
Lecornu’s resignation marks another blow to Macron’s presidency, which has struggled with political gridlock since the 2024 legislative elections produced a hung parliament. The turmoil also comes as France faces soaring public debt, now among the highest in the EU, and growing public discontent ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Far-right leader Marine Le Pen called on Macron to resign and demanded snap elections, saying they were “absolutely necessary.” Her National Rally (RN) party leader, Jordan Bardella, added that the party was “ready to govern.”
With France’s financial markets reacting negatively, the CAC 40 index dropping 1.4 percent after Lecornu’s exit, Macron now faces one of the toughest tests of his presidency, as pressure mounts both domestically and from within his own coalition.
What you should know
Sebastien Lecornu, once seen as Macron’s trusted ally, resigned after less than a month as prime minister, triggering a major political crisis in France.
Macron has given him two days to propose a plan to stabilize the government amid calls for new elections and growing unrest within his administration.
