France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Monday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, only hours after the newly appointed premier unveiled his cabinet — a move that has thrown the country into deeper political turmoil.
Gatekeepers News reports that Lecornu, who previously served as defence minister, was appointed prime minister last month. However, the largely unchanged cabinet he presented late Sunday drew swift and sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.
The 38-year-old had faced an uphill battle in securing parliamentary approval for a contentious austerity budget for next year, amid growing divisions in the National Assembly.
Lecornu’s two predecessors, François Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were also forced out following standoffs with lawmakers over spending plans.
France’s public debt has climbed to record levels, with official data last week showing its debt-to-GDP ratio now ranks as the third highest in the European Union, after Greece and Italy — nearly double the 60 percent limit set by EU rules.
While previous governments pushed through the last three annual budgets without a parliamentary vote — a constitutional but controversial tactic — Lecornu had pledged to “ensure lawmakers were able to vote on the bill.”
France’s political gridlock dates back to Macron’s gamble on snap parliamentary elections last year, intended to strengthen his hand in the legislature. The move instead backfired, leaving his centrist alliance short of a majority and deepening the stalemate that has now claimed a third prime minister.
