By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
France’s Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned barely four weeks after assuming office, plunging the country deeper into political uncertainty.
The Elysée Palace confirmed his resignation on Monday, following an hour-long meeting between Lecornu and President Emmanuel Macron. The announcement came less than a day after Lecornu unveiled his cabinet.
His sudden departure marks yet another episode in France’s ongoing political turbulence. Lecornu, a Macron loyalist and former armed forces minister, was appointed on September 10, succeeding François Bayrou, whose government collapsed amid mounting parliamentary tensions.
However, Lecornu’s newly formed cabinet faced immediate backlash. Lawmakers across the political spectrum criticised it for mirroring Bayrou’s previous lineup, threatening to reject it in a confidence vote.
The uproar has now intensified calls for early elections, with several opposition figures urging Macron himself to step down, a move he has consistently ruled out before the end of his term in 2027.
France has struggled with political instability since July 2024, when snap parliamentary elections resulted in a hung parliament, leaving successive governments unable to secure majority support for key legislation, including the national budget.
Lecornu’s resignation makes him France’s fifth prime minister in under two years, underscoring the fragility of Macron’s centrist coalition and the widening divisions in the National Assembly.
The Elysée is expected to announce an interim replacement as discussions begin on the next possible nominee.
This is a developing story. More details will follow as they become available.
