In a stunning development that underscores the deep political instability in France, Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned just hours after unveiling his new cabinet.1 President Emmanuel Macron has accepted his resignation.2
Lecornu was appointed prime minister less than a month ago, on September 9, 2025, after a no-confidence vote toppled his predecessor, François Bayrou.3 The move was an attempt by Macron to form a government capable of navigating a deeply divided parliament where no party holds a clear majority.
However, the cabinet lineup announced by Lecornu on Sunday was met with swift and fierce criticism from both allies and opponents.4 Many saw the appointments as a continuation of Macron’s previous policies rather than the “rupture” with the past that Lecornu had promised. This led to threats from across the political spectrum to topple his government with another no-confidence vote.
Lecornu’s resignation, after a tenure of only 26 or 27 days, marks one of the shortest in modern French history. The political turmoil has sent French stocks and the euro plummeting, and it has fueled calls from Macron’s opponents for new parliamentary elections or even his own resignation.
As of now, a successor has not been named, and Macron is expected to begin consultations immediately to find a new prime minister who can command the necessary parliamentary support.5
