France’s Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned after 26 days in office.
It is the shortest prime ministerial term in modern French history.
The announcement came less than a day after he revealed a new cabinet.
Lecornu is expected to meet with President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday for final discussions to devise a plan “for the stability of the country.”
His departure paves the way for the country’s sixth PM since 2022.
Context
France’s last parliamentary election was held in July 2024.
Macron called the snap election in response to gains by far-right parties at the European Parliament election.
At the French election, no party or coalition won enough seats to govern alone.
A left-wing coalition called Nouveau Front Populaire, led by Jean-Luc Mélenchon, picked up the most seats. It was followed by Macron’s party, then the far-right party Rassemblement National, led by Marine Le Pen.
A centrist coalition eventually formed government under 73-year-old Michel Barnier, who lost a vote of no-confidence after three months in office.
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François Bayrou took over as PM in early 2025, before losing his own vote of no-confidence last month. He had called the vote after failing to pass a budget.
Lecornu, considered one of Macron’s closest political allies, then took over.
He has served in Macron’s cabinet since the President was first elected in 2017, most recently holding the role of Defence Minister before being appointed Prime Minister.
Resignation
In an address to media, Lecornu said he was forced to resign from the “difficult task” of being Prime Minister after “conditions were no longer met for [him] to exercise [his] duties”.
He attributed his decision to a lack of willingness among political parties in France’s parliament to compromise on issues “that cannot wait” until the next presidential election in 2027.
Lecornu said efforts to “build a path forward” on financial and social issues had been “blocked for many weeks now”.
Reactions
Mélenchon blamed the “political chaos” on Macron, leading calls for a snap election.
“An unprecedented historical political situation is unfolding. We have a duty to respond by giving the people a voice again,” Mélenchon said.
Rassemblement National and Le Pen have also called for an election, and demanded Macron’s government “stop the shady dealings and unnatural alliances that are plunging France into chaos”.
