Sébastien Lecornu / Emmanuel Macron suffers setback, French PM resigns within a month

Sébastien Lecornu: The French political landscape has once again been thrown into turmoil. Recently appointed Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned from his post after just one month in office. Lecornu took this step due to his failure to present a budget and his inability to address the political deadlock. Immediately following his resignation, the Paris Stock Exchange recorded a 1.7% drop, reflecting France's economic and political uncertainty.

Background to the Resignation

According to a France 24 report, Lecornu resigned just hours after forming his cabinet. Opposition parties had presented a no-confidence motion against him in Parliament, which he was unable to withstand. A cabinet meeting was called, but Lecornu took this step before the meeting. According to sources, he realized that he had lost favor in Parliament. He decided to resign to avoid embarrassment to himself and the government.

Reasons for Resigning in a Month

Lecornu was appointed Prime Minister by President Emmanuel Macron about a month ago. However, his appointment was mired in controversy from the outset. There were two main reasons:

Political instability and lack of majority: No party won a clear majority in the 2024 general elections. Despite this, Macron appointed leaders close to him as Prime Minister, starting with France Bayrou. Bayrou's appointment was accused of violating the constitution, and he did not last long. Lecornu was subsequently given the responsibility, but he too failed to gain the confidence of the House of Representatives.

Economic crisis and budget dispute: The French economy is facing a serious crisis. Rising debt and economic instability remain challenges for the government. The government proposed budget cuts, which were strongly opposed by the public and the opposition. Like Bayrou, Lecornu also failed to get the proposal passed by Parliament, further weakening his position.

Immediate impact of resignation

Lecornu's resignation immediately impacted French financial markets. The Paris Stock Exchange recorded a 1.7% decline, reflecting growing uncertainty among investors. Furthermore, opposition parties have begun to portray this as a failure of the Macron government.

What's next?

The French National Assembly has 577 seats, and the support of at least 279 seats is required to form a government. Currently, The Rally Group holds the largest number of seats, and it is likely that President Macron may invite this group to form a government. However, The Rally Group has demanded that the National Assembly be dissolved immediately and fresh elections be held. This demand is significant because Macron's term runs until 2027, and the failure of two consecutive prime ministers has weakened his position.

Le Premier ministre, Sébastien Lecornu, a remis la démission de son Gouvernement au président de la République, qui l’a acceptée. pic.twitter.com/zTXAy7OmNG

— Gouvernement (@gouvernementFR) October 6, 2025