PARIS, France—October 6, 2025 — France’s political instability reached a dramatic new low today as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu and his newly appointed government resigned, a mere 14 hours after the cabinet lineup was announced. The swift collapse—the shortest-lived government in modern French history—plunges President Emmanuel Macron’s administration into a profound crisis and intensifies calls for snap parliamentary elections.
The Élysée Palace confirmed that President Macron accepted the resignation of Lecornu, a close ally who had been in the post for only 27 days following the ousting of his predecessor last month.
Rejection of the New Cabinet
Lecornu, who had been tasked with forming a government capable of navigating a deeply fragmented parliament, had unveiled his cabinet on Sunday evening. The new lineup, however, was immediately savaged by political allies and opponents alike.
- No “Profound Break”: Critics across the spectrum argued the cabinet was largely a rehash of Macron loyalists, failing to deliver the “profound break” with past policies Lecornu had promised upon his appointment.
- Controversial Appointments: The controversial return of former long-serving Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire, this time as Defense Minister, particularly enraged politicians who viewed it as a sign of unchanged pro-business policies despite France’s growing public debt crisis.
- Threat of No-Confidence: Facing immediate threats of a no-confidence vote from a united opposition of the far-right National Rally and the hard-left France Unbowed, Lecornu chose to resign before he could be toppled by the legislature.
In a brief address, the outgoing Prime Minister blamed the resignation on the “partisan appetites” and “egos” of opposition parties who refused to compromise, effectively saying the conditions were not met for him to govern.
Instability and Economic Fallout
Lecornu’s resignation marks him as President Macron’s fifth prime minister in just two years, a reflection of the deep instability stemming from the inconclusive snap election held last year. With no single party holding an absolute majority, successive minority governments have struggled to pass legislation, especially a new austerity budget needed to address the nation’s soaring public debt.
The renewed political turmoil immediately rattled financial markets. Paris’s benchmark CAC 40 index plummeted by nearly 2%, making it the worst-performing index in Europe, while the euro slid against the dollar.
Opposition leaders were quick to demand an ultimate resolution to the political gridlock:
- Far-Right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella immediately called for a dissolution of the National Assembly and new elections, stating, “There can be no return to stability without a return to the ballot box.”
- The hard-left France Unbowed party went further, demanding President Macron’s resignation.
The crisis leaves President Macron with few palatable options: he must now attempt to appoint a third prime minister in a year, a task made increasingly difficult by the deeply divided parliament and the pressing need to pass a budget to control the nation’s debt.
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