Macron's Political Crisis: Why France's PM Sébastien Lecornu Stepped Down In Just One Month

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Macron’s Political Crisis: Why France’s PM Sébastien Lecornu Stepped Down in Just One Month

The world of French politics, often characterized by intricate maneuvers and high drama, just delivered a significant blow to President Emmanuel Macron. The news that his newly appointed Prime Minister, Sebastian Lecornu, resigned after a mere four weeks in office sent shockwaves through Paris—and the financial markets. It was a spectacular, almost unbelievable failure that highlights the deep political divisions currently gripping the nation.

The Shortest Stint: Why Lecornu’s Time Ended So Abruptly

Sebastian Lecornu, a key figure chosen by Macron, offered his resignation just a month into the job. The immediate catalyst? His inability to successfully present the national budget and his failure to navigate the tumultuous political gridlock in the French Parliament.

The impact was immediate and tangible: following the news of his resignation, the Paris Stock Exchange dropped by 1.7 percent. This isn’t just a political defeat; it’s a tremor that financial markets register as instability.

The Political Mechanics of a Rapid Exit

According to a detailed report by France 24, Lecornu’s resignation came just hours after his Cabinet had been formed. It’s an extraordinary timeline that speaks volumes about the level of parliamentary hostility he faced.

The opposition parties, sensing blood in the water, had already filed a motion of no confidence against him in the National Assembly. It quickly became clear he wouldn’t survive the vote.

The report also indicates that a Cabinet meeting was scheduled, but Lecornu stepped down before it could even commence. Why the haste? He recognized the writing was on the wall. The Prime Minister realized he no longer had the necessary acceptance—or perhaps, even respect—from the Parliament. To avoid the public humiliation and political spectacle of being effectively booted out, he chose the proactive (though still humiliating) path of resignation.

Expert Insight: In parliamentary systems like France’s, a Prime Minister must maintain the “confidence” of the lower house (the National Assembly). Losing that confidence, either by a formal vote or by clear political signaling, makes their position untenable. This isn’t just about party numbers; it’s about maintaining the political capital to govern. Lecornu simply ran out of credit before he even started.

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

The Double Whammy: Two Core Reasons for the Collapse

Lecornu was appointed by President Macron just a month prior, following a general election that had failed to deliver a clear majority to any single party. However, his tenure was immediately met with fierce resistance from the opposition. The resistance stemmed from two principal factors: a constitutional controversy and an economic crisis.

1. The Appointment Controversy and Constitutional Overreach

The 2024 general elections produced a hung parliament—no party secured an absolute majority. Despite this, President Macron moved to appoint leaders closely aligned with his political vision, a move the opposition decried as potentially overstepping his constitutional bounds by favoring allies without sufficient parliamentary backing.

The Precedent: Lecornu wasn’t the first. Initially, François Bayrou was appointed Prime Minister. This appointment was immediately met with accusations that Macron was encroaching on the constitution by prioritizing his loyalists. Bayrou’s term was also short-lived, failing to stabilize the political situation.
The Repeat Failure: When Lecornu took the reins, the core issue persisted. He, too, failed to secure the essential trust and cooperation of the National Assembly. This pattern suggested that Macron’s approach to governance—appointing loyalists in a minority situation—was fundamentally flawed.

2. The Unpassable Budget and Deepening Economic Woes

France is currently wrestling with a significant economic downturn. Government debt is mounting, and widespread public protests have become a regular feature, demanding action to resolve the crisis.

The Painful Solution: The government proposed a harsh budgetary austerity plan, which included substantial cuts designed to curb the mounting debt. Predictably, this proposal was met with massive public and political backlash.
The Failed Attempts: François Bayrou could not get this contentious budget through Parliament. When Lecornu took over, he inherited the same poisoned chalice. Facing such intense opposition and lacking a parliamentary majority, the prospect of successfully passing the budget seemed impossible. He was effectively checkmated, choosing to back down rather than face inevitable legislative defeat.

What Happens Next? The Road Ahead for France

The resignation of the Prime Minister throws the ball firmly back into President Macron’s court. He remains President until 2027, but the repeated failure of his hand-picked leaders has severely weakened his position.

The Rally Group: The Unlikely Successor?

Currently, The Rally Group (Rassemblement National) holds the largest number of seats in the National Assembly. Given the “two bad experiences” (Bayrou and Lecornu), Macron might be constitutionally compelled to extend an invitation to The Rally Group to form a government, despite their radically different political ideology.

However, The Rally Group has already made their position clear: they aren’t interested in simply propping up Macron’s government. They have formally demanded the immediate dissolution of the National Assembly and called for fresh general elections.

The Assembly currently holds 577 seats, and a minimum of 279 seats is required to form a majority government. Without that majority, France is set for continued political instability, with the possibility of new elections looming large.

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