The French PM Steps Down Following Barely Three Weeks Amid Broad Backlash of Freshly Appointed Cabinet

France's political crisis has worsened after the freshly installed PM dramatically resigned within a short time of forming a cabinet.

Rapid Departure During Government Instability

Sébastien Lecornu was the third premier in a twelve-month period, as the nation continued to move from one government turmoil to another. He resigned a short time before his opening government session on the beginning of the workweek. The president approved Lecornu's resignation on the beginning of Monday.

Intense Criticism Over New Cabinet

France's leader had faced intense backlash from political opponents when he announced a fresh cabinet that was largely similar since last recent dismissal of his preceding leader, his predecessor.

The announced cabinet was controlled by the president's supporters, leaving the administration mostly identical.

Opposition Criticism

Opposition parties said the prime minister had stepped back on the "major shift" with previous policies that he had promised when he came to power from the unpopular previous leader, who was ousted on 9 September over a planned spending cuts.

Next Political Course

The uncertainty now is whether the national leader will decide to terminate the legislature and call another snap election.

The National Rally president, the head of the far-right leader's opposition group, said: "It's impossible to have a return to stability without a return to the ballot box and the national assembly being dissolved."

He added, "It was very clearly France's leader who determined this cabinet himself. He has understood nothing of the present conditions we are in."

Election Demands

The opposition movement has advocated for another election, thinking they can increase their positions and role in the assembly.

The country has gone through a time of turmoil and government instability since the national leader called an unclear early vote last year. The assembly remains divided between the main groups: the left, the conservative wing and the centre, with no clear majority.

Financial Pressure

A budget for next year must be passed within weeks, even though parliamentary groups are at loggerheads and his leadership ended in less than a month.

Opposition Motion

Parties from the left to far right were to hold gatherings on Monday to decide whether or not to vote to oust France's leader in a opposition challenge, and it seemed that the cabinet would fall before it had even started work. The prime minister seemingly decided to leave before he could be ousted.

Ministerial Positions

Most of the big government posts revealed on the previous evening remained the identical, including Gérald Darmanin as justice minister and the culture minister as culture minister.

The position of economic policy head, which is crucial as a split assembly struggles to agree on a budget, went to the president's supporter, a government partner who had previously served as economic sector leader at the start of Macron's second term.

Unexpected Selection

In a surprise move, the president's political partner, a Macron ally who had acted as financial affairs leader for multiple terms of his term, came back to government as national security leader. This angered officials across the political divide, who saw it as a sign that there would be no questioning or modification of his corporate-friendly approach.