Paris — France’s political crisis deepened on Monday after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu announced his resignation, less than 24 hours after unveiling his cabinet. Lecornu, who was appointed only 26 days ago following the collapse of Francois Bayrou’s government, said he could not continue under current political conditions, citing the lack of willingness among parties to compromise.

“The conditions were not fulfilled for me to carry on as prime minister,” Lecornu said in a brief statement . He accused rival political parties of “partisan appetites” and behaving “as if they had an absolute majority,” adding that despite his readiness for compromise, every party wanted others to accept their full agenda.

The Elysee Palace confirmed Lecornu’s resignation shortly after his one-hour meeting with President Emmanuel Macron on Monday morning. So far, Macron has made no public comment, but the unexpected resignation leaves him facing a series of difficult choices calling new elections, appointing yet another prime minister, or considering his own position amid growing discontent.

The crisis erupted amid heavy criticism from across the National Assembly over Lecornu’s newly announced cabinet, which largely mirrored that of his predecessor Bayrou. Lawmakers from both the left and right had threatened to reject the new government in an upcoming confidence vote.

Marine Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally (RN), was quick to respond to Lecornu’s resignation, saying, “The only wise thing to do now is to hold elections. The joke’s gone on long enough. French people are fed up. Macron has put the country in an extremely difficult position.”

Lecornu, a close ally of Macron and former armed forces minister, was France’s fifth prime minister in less than two years, a clear reflection of the political instability that has gripped the country since mid-2024.

The turmoil began in July 2024, when President Macron called snap parliamentary elections after his party’s defeat in the European Parliament polls. Rather than securing a majority, the elections resulted in a deeply divided hung parliament, split between left, right, and centrist blocs unwilling to cooperate.

This deadlock has made governance nearly impossible, with successive prime ministers struggling to pass legislation. Michel Barnier, appointed last September, was ousted within three months. His successor, Francois Bayrou, lasted nine months before parliament rejected his austerity budget aimed at cutting €44 billion in public spending.

France’s financial challenges have worsened during this period. The country’s deficit reached 5.8% of GDP in 2024, and national debt now stands at 114% of GDP, the third highest in the eurozone after Greece and Italy, amounting to nearly €50,000 per citizen.

Lecornu, in his farewell remarks, said France’s political class needed to “set egos aside” and embrace humility to restore stability. “It wouldn’t need much for this to work,” he said, emphasizing that cooperation between parties was essential for the country to move forward.

Following the news of his resignation, stocks on the Paris exchange fell sharply on Monday morning, reflecting investor anxiety over France’s growing political and economic uncertainty.

With Lecornu’s departure, President Macron faces one of the most fragile moments of his presidency, as France remains without a functioning government and no clear path forward to end the political deadlock.