France’s recently appointed Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned from his position just four weeks after assuming office, the Élysée Palace announced on Monday.
According to the statement, Lecornu submitted his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron, who accepted it immediately. The sudden resignation comes barely a day after Lecornu unveiled the allocation of key ministerial posts in his new government on Sunday evening.
Lecornu’s short-lived tenure has been marred by mounting political unrest, stemming from dissatisfaction among key allies within the ruling coalition.
The leader of the conservative Republicans Party, Bruno Retailleau, publicly voiced discontent with the cabinet composition and subsequently called an emergency meeting for Monday.
His remarks sparked speculation about a possible withdrawal of the conservatives from the fragile coalition with Macron’s centrist alliance, which already lacks a stable majority in the French National Assembly.
Observers say Lecornu’s resignation underscores the increasing instability within Macron’s government, which has struggled to maintain parliamentary cohesion since the last legislative elections left it without an outright majority.
Lecornu’s departure is expected to force Macron to reconsider his political strategy and possibly initiate talks for a broader alliance or fresh appointments.
Before his resignation, Lecornu had been scheduled to address the National Assembly on Tuesday, where he was expected to outline the government’s policy direction and present the remaining cabinet positions. That plan has now been shelved, pending the appointment of a new Prime Minister.
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Political analysts in Paris described Lecornu’s exit as “a symptom of deeper divisions” within the governing coalition, noting that the inability to agree on ministerial roles revealed long-standing tensions between the centrist and conservative blocs.
Sébastien Lecornu, 38, had been regarded as a rising star in Macron’s administration. A close ally of the president, he previously served as Minister of Defence before being appointed Prime Minister last month in a surprise reshuffle aimed at rejuvenating Macron’s leadership for his final term.
However, his tenure quickly became turbulent, with growing pressure from the right-wing Republicans, who accused him of sidelining conservative voices in favour of Macron’s loyalists.
The Élysée has yet to announce Lecornu’s successor, but French media reports suggest Macron may turn to a seasoned political figure to restore confidence and prevent further coalition fractures.
The resignation adds another layer of uncertainty to France’s political landscape, coming at a time when Macron faces criticism over economic reforms, immigration policies, and declining approval ratings.
NAN
