New French PM Quits Hours After Cabinet Named

France’s newly appointed Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, and his cabinet resigned on Monday, just hours after being named. The abrupt resignation adds to growing political instability, leading to a sharp drop in French stocks and the euro.
Lecornu, President Emmanuel Macron’s fifth prime minister in two years, said he could not govern under current conditions, citing a lack of cooperation from opposition parties and internal divisions within the ruling coalition. His government, which lasted only 14 hours, is now the shortest in modern French history.
The cabinet lineup, announced Sunday, drew immediate criticism from both allies and opponents. With no party holding a majority in parliament, prospects for effective governance remain uncertain.
Opposition leaders are calling for new parliamentary elections. Marine Le Pen urged a dissolution of the National Assembly, while left-wing figures demanded President Macron’s resignation.
France’s financial markets reacted sharply. The CAC 40 index dropped 2%, and the euro declined 0.7%. Analysts warned that continued political uncertainty could have broader implications for Europe.
France’s fragmented political landscape, shaped by Macron’s rise in 2017, has made coalition-building difficult, putting strain on a system designed for stable majority rule.