France’s prime minister resigns hours after cabinet unveiled

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
6 Oct 2025 12:53

French PM Sebastien Lecornu resigned shortly following the unveiling of his cabinet, deepening France’s political crisis amid disputes over the austerity budget.

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French outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, who resigned just a day after naming his government, arrives to deliver his statement at the Hotel Matignon in Paris, Monday, October 6, 2025. (Stephane Mahe/Pool via AP)

France’s political crisis deepened on Monday after French President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, just hours after unveiling a new cabinet, the presidency confirmed.

Lecornu, a former defense minister appointed to the post last month, stepped down amid growing discontent across the political spectrum following the announcement of his largely unchanged cabinet.

The reshuffle, unveiled late Sunday, faced immediate criticism from opposition parties, accusing the government of ignoring calls for renewal after months of legislative gridlock.

Lecornu had been tasked with steering through an austerity budget for 2026, a challenge made more difficult by France’s divided National Assembly and mounting public frustration with spending cuts.

Parliament deadlock deepens over austerity budget

The prime minister’s resignation comes after his two predecessors, François Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were ousted by lawmakers over similar disputes tied to the France austerity budget.

France’s public debt recently hit a record high, with official data showing the debt-to-GDP ratio as the European Union’s third highest, after Greece and Italy, nearly double the 60% threshold permitted under EU fiscal rules.

For the past three years, successive governments pushed their budgets through without parliamentary approval, invoking a constitutional clause that bypasses voting, a move widely condemned by opposition parties.

Lecornu had promised to restore a democratic vote on the next budget, but his sudden departure has thrown that pledge, and the country’s fiscal roadmap, into uncertainty.

France faces record debt amid political turmoil

The latest crisis underscores the deepening instability in French politics. Macron’s decision to call snap parliamentary elections last year, intended to strengthen his mandate, instead left his centrist alliance in a weakened minority.

As the political standoff continues, analysts warn that France’s inability to secure legislative consensus could hinder its response to mounting economic and social pressures.