Macron accepts Prime Minister Lecornu’s resignation amid political deadlock

France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Monday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu, just hours after announcing his new cabinet, a move that has deepened the country’s ongoing political crisis.

Lecornu, who previously served as defence minister, was appointed prime minister last month. However, the cabinet he unveiled late on Sunday — which retained most of the previous ministers — drew sharp criticism from across France’s political divide.

The now-resigned prime minister had been facing an uphill battle to secure parliamentary approval for a proposed austerity budget for 2026 in a deeply fragmented legislature. His two immediate predecessors, Francois Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were also forced out following disputes with lawmakers over spending plans.

France’s debt crisis has been a major source of contention. Recent data revealed that the country’s public debt has climbed to a record high, making its debt-to-GDP ratio the third highest in the European Union, after Greece and Italy — and nearly double the 60 percent threshold permitted under EU fiscal rules.

In recent years, successive French governments have bypassed parliamentary approval to pass the national budget using constitutional provisions that allow such a move. The opposition has repeatedly condemned the practice, calling it undemocratic.

Lecornu had pledged to reverse that trend, promising to allow lawmakers to debate and vote on the upcoming budget.

France’s political paralysis dates back to mid-2024, when President Macron’s gamble on snap parliamentary elections backfired, stripping his centrist alliance of its majority in the National Assembly.

Since then, his administration has struggled to push through key legislation, further straining relations with opposition parties.