Outgoing French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu began two days of urgent talks on Tuesday with members of multiple political parties, just one day after his unexpected resignation. The discussions aim to help end France’s deepening political crisis.
Lecornu resigned on Monday morning along with his cabinet, only hours after forming a government that was quickly rejected by both allies and opponents. His administration became the shortest-lived in modern French history.
President Emmanuel Macron has tasked Lecornu with leading cross-party negotiations, setting a Wednesday evening deadline to find a way forward. However, the move has drawn criticism and confusion among lawmakers, with some viewing the talks as a stalling tactic nearly a month after Lecornu’s appointment.
Centrist lawmaker and former Prime Minister Gabriel Attal voiced public frustration, saying, “Like many French citizens, I no longer understand the president’s decisions.”
Lecornu seeks support from conservative and centrist parties
On Tuesday morning, Lecornu met with members of Les Républicains (LR) and Renaissance, including Senate President Gérard Larcher and National Assembly head Yaël Braun-Pivet, to discuss possible paths toward stability.
The political crisis—France’s most severe since the Fifth Republic was founded in 1958—dates back to June last year, when President Macron called snap parliamentary elections following a far-right surge in the European Parliament vote.
The elections resulted in a deeply divided parliament with no clear majority, undermining Macron’s ability to govern. France’s political system was designed for a strong presidential majority, not fragile coalition-building, which has made compromise difficult.
Lecornu is Macron’s third prime minister since the 2024 elections, reflecting growing instability. The president’s options are narrowing—he could appoint a new prime minister or even reappoint Lecornu, though opposition parties are calling for parliament’s dissolution or Macron’s resignation.
Left-wing leaders have urged Macron to choose a Socialist prime minister, but he has resisted the idea, fearing it could reverse key policies such as the pension reform and tax adjustments.
Macron, whose term runs until 2027, has ruled out resigning or calling new elections for now.
Business leaders call for stability
The head of Medef, France’s main business lobby, Patrick Martin, said the ongoing turmoil was hurting investor confidence. Speaking to Franceinfo radio, he described the situation as a “political spectacle that saddens us” and urged politicians to act responsibly to restore stability.
