Sébastien Lecornu Resignation Triggers Political Crisis and Calls for Macron's Exit in France

Sébastien Lecornu resigned as Prime Minister of France less than 24 hours after announcing his government, marking a dramatic political upheaval. Lecornu, appointed less than a month ago and the third Prime Minister since the National Assembly dissolution on June 10, 2024, cited that "the conditions were no longer met" as his reason for departure. This has intensified political instability amid mounting economic concerns, with the CAC 40 index dropping more than 2% and French debt costs rising sharply.

The resignation has incited diverse political reactions. The far-right Rassemblement National (RN), led by Jordan Bardella, was surprised by Lecornu’s resignation but believes President Emmanuel Macron is consolidating loyalists in government. Bardella and party leader Marine Le Pen are calling for immediate new elections, underscoring a desire to challenge future governments. The RN also warned Lecornu’s government could face a break or censure amid this turmoil.

The left, particularly France Insoumise (LFI), is pushing for President Macron’s resignation, even urging immediate examination of an impeachment motion. Public sentiment reflects this, with an Odoxa-Backbone poll showing 70% of French citizens favor Macron stepping down, and 57% holding him responsible for the ongoing chaos. Gabriel Attal, head of Macron’s presidential party, expressed confusion about the President’s recent decisions and suggested power-sharing and independent negotiations as solutions to budgetary deadlocks.

This crisis unfurls against a backdrop where the left lost most key National Assembly positions during recent votes, with the RN supporting candidates from the central bloc, adding complexity to political alignments. The editorial board of Le Figaro branded Macron’s recent public appearances as a "tranquil farce," stressing that new elections could be the only path out of the crisis.