How France’s Unresolved Financial Crisis Contributed to Three Prime Ministerial Resignations in One Year

The unexpected resignation of French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu after only 26 days in office has plunged France into a deeper political crisis. Lecornu, appointed by President Emmanuel Macron to navigate a fragmented parliament, resigned on Monday, October 6, 2025, just hours after unveiling his new cabinet. This unprecedented short tenure highlights the ungovernable political deadlock that has gripped France since snap legislative elections in 2024 resulted in a hung parliament.

Lecornu, who became the fifth French Premier in under two years, cited a lack of support from a deeply divided legislature as the primary reason for his departure. He lamented the "partisan appetites" and "egos" of opposition parties, stating the conditions were no longer met for him to govern effectively. The immediate catalyst for the resignation appears to have been the fierce criticism from all sides, including conservative allies who objected to his cabinet choices, which were seen as a continuation of previous policies rather than the promised "profound break." The new government, designed to find a consensus to pass an austerity budget, faced an immediate threat of a no confidence vote.

The political turmoil is closely tied to France's mounting financial crisis. The nation is grappling with a steep budget deficit and soaring public debt, the second largest in the Eurozone. Lecornu's main task was to secure parliamentary approval for a challenging 2026 budget aimed at reining in spending a task that also led to the ouster of his two immediate predecessors. The failure of yet another government has intensified market anxiety, sending French stocks and the euro sharply lower.

The crisis has put immense pressure on President Macron, who has now asked Lecornu to hold two more days of "final negotiations" to seek a pathway to stability, though this is widely seen as a last ditch effort. Opponents, ranging from the far right National Rally to the far left France Unbowed, are seizing the moment to call for either new legislative elections or even Macron's resignation. While Macron has consistently ruled out both options, the political instability is escalating calls to dissolve parliament, which, given the current political climate, risks ushering in a far right government.