Why Did French PM Sebastien Lecornu Resign So Soon?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Sebastien Lecornu resigned after a short stint as Prime Minister.
- His resignation indicates a political crisis in France.
- Criticism arose from both the opposition and members of his own party regarding cabinet choices.
- President Emmanuel Macron swiftly accepted the resignation, reflecting urgency in political stability.
- The new cabinet appointments sparked debate about continuity in governance.
Paris, Oct 6 (NationPress) French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has stepped down on Monday, signaling a significant political upheaval in the nation. His resignation occurs just weeks following his appointment.
President Emmanuel Macron accepted Lecornu's resignation on Monday morning, mere hours after he disclosed the names of his cabinet, according to Euro News.
After the cabinet announcement, Lecornu faced backlash from both his party and the opposition. The conservative Republicans party voiced strong disapproval regarding the reappointment of France's former Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire as Defence Minister, reports suggest.
On Sunday, Lecornu revealed the cabinet lineup, which featured Le Maire, who held the position of French Economy Minister from 2017 to 2024, now taking on the role of Defence Minister. Roland Lescure was designated as the new Economy Minister of France, while Jean-Noel Barrot maintained his responsibilities as Foreign Minister. Bruno Retailleau and Gerald Darmanin also retained their roles as Interior and Justice Ministers, respectively, as reported by Xinhua News Agency. The French presidency disclosed a total of 18 names, consisting of 16 ministers and 2 ministers delegate.
Following the cabinet lineup announcement, Jordan Bardella, leader of the National Rally (RN), criticized the appointments. In a social media statement, he asserted that the new cabinet merely embodies the continuity of the previous administration.
On September 9, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Lecornu, who had been the Defence Minister, as the country's Prime Minister. At 39 years old, Lecornu had served as Defence Minister for over three years and was regarded as a close ally of Macron.
In contrast to past delays in appointing a new Prime Minister, Macron swiftly selected Lecornu last month, indicating a sense of urgency to stabilize the political and economic landscape.
Mathilde Panot, president of the La France Insoumise parliamentary group, condemned Lecornu's appointment as a provocation amidst escalating protests. She accused Macron of maintaining policies favoring the wealthy minority in the Assembly and the nation.
Upon his appointment, Lecornu expressed gratitude to Macron for his trust through a message on his social media account and commended the outgoing PM Francois Bayrou for his bravery in upholding his convictions.
Macron's decision came a day after Bayrou and his cabinet faced a parliamentary confidence vote, leading to their ousting over a proposal to cut public spending. Subsequently, Bayrou submitted his resignation.