French President Emmanuel Macron has asked outgoing Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu to stay on for 48 hours after he resigned on Monday, complaining of political 'egos'. Lecornu, who became the third prime minister in a year to quit the EU's second-largest economy, will conduct final negotiations to define a platform for action and stability.
Lecornu made a spontaneous speech on the steps of Matignon palace, blaming opposition parties for refusing to compromise. He said he had been ready to compromise but each party wanted its entire programme adopted. The 39-year-old former defence minister is the shortest-serving premier in modern French history, with his cabinet announced barely 12 hours before his resignation.
Macron now faces a choice between appointing a new prime minister capable of passing a budget or dissolving the national assembly and calling fresh legislative elections. He has expressed reluctance to hold another vote, fearing a divided parliament or a far-right government, and has said he will not resign before his mandate ends in 2027.
The political crisis deepened after Macron dissolved parliament last summer, resulting in a hung parliament split into three blocs: the left, the far right, and Macron's centre-right alliance. The far-right National Rally called for another dissolution, while the radical left France Unbowed reiterated calls for Macron to step down. Markets reacted negatively, with the CAC 40 dropping 2% and the euro falling 0.7%.
