🔗 Share this article French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu Tenders Resignation After Under a Month in Power The French Premier Lecornu has handed in his resignation, under 24 hours after his government team was announced. The presidential office issued a statement after the Prime Minister met President Emmanuel Macron for an hour on the start of the week. This surprising decision comes only under four weeks after Lecornu was given the PM role following the downfall of the prior administration of his predecessor. Political factions in the National Assembly had fiercely criticised the makeup of the new government, which was largely unchanged to Bayrou's, and threatened to vote it down. Calls for Snap Polls and Political Instability Multiple political groups are now clamouring for a snap election, with certain voices urging Macron to resign too - despite the fact that he has consistently affirmed he will not resign before his mandate concludes in 2027. "The President needs to decide: dissolution of parliament or leaving office," said Chenu, one of prominent members of the RN party. The outgoing PM - the ex-defense chief and a ally of the President - was the fifth French PM in less than 24 months. Background of Government Crisis France's political landscape has been highly unstable since mid-2024, when early legislative polls resulted in a no clear majority. This has posed obstacles for every premier to garner the necessary support to enact new laws. Bayrou's government was voted down in autumn after lawmakers voted against his fiscal tightening package, which aimed to slash government spending by €44bn. Economic Challenges and Stock Reaction The French shortfall stood at 5.8% of GDP in 2024 and its national debt is more than the total economic output. That is the third highest public debt in the euro area after Greece and Italy, and equal to almost 50k euros for each resident. Share prices dropped in the Paris exchange after the resignation report broke on the start of the week.