Lecornu’s resignation came less than a month after he took office. President Emmanuel Macron immediately accepted the resignation, leaving France once again without a stable government. The prime minister stated that “the conditions to perform his duties were no longer present,” referring to growing divisions within his center-right coalition.
The crisis reached a peak Sunday evening when newly appointed Bruno Retailleau, leader of Les Républicains, publicly attacked the newly formed cabinet. He said the composition of the government “did not reflect the promised break with old politics” and called a party leadership meeting. This caused Lecornu to lose the support of a key partner in his center-right coalition.
Although the split with Retailleau was the direct cause of the resignation, tensions within the French political landscape run deeper. Since last year’s parliamentary elections, the center-right parties no longer have a majority. Previous cabinets under François Bayrou and Michel Barnier also collapsed within months due to budget disagreements.
Lecornu had tried to distance himself from the controversial practice of pushing laws through parliament without a vote under Article 49.3. He promised more cooperation with all factions, but this effort failed. Within weeks of taking office, the tone between allies and opposition grew tense again.
According to multiple statements, Lecornu accused other parties of political maneuvering with the 2027 elections in mind. His call to “put the country above the party” received little response. Discontent over the lack of consultation and the course of the new prime minister also grew within Macron’s Renaissance party.
Criticism did not only come from within. Jordan Bardella of the right-wing Rassemblement National and Jean-Luc Mélenchon of the left-wing La France Insoumise both called for new elections. Marine Le Pen went further, suggesting that Macron should also resign.
The political uncertainty in France also has economic consequences. Shortly after the resignation was announced, the Paris stock exchange fell significantly, and shares of major banks lost several percent in value. Meanwhile, France is struggling with a budget deficit above five percent and public debt exceeding 110 percent of GDP.
With Lecornu’s departure, Macron must now search for his eighth prime minister since 2022. For the time being, the country remains without an approved budget for 2026 and without prospects for a stable majority. The crisis once again highlights how deeply political paralysis has taken hold in France and how limited the president’s room to maneuver now is.