French Prime Minister Resigns in Less Than a Month, Marking Shortest Tenure Since 1958

Elysee Palace Announces on October 6

Sebastien Lecornu, the Prime Minister of France, is delivering a statement at the Matignon Hotel, the official residence of the Prime Minister, on the 6th (local time). Photo by EPA Yonhap News

The Elysee Palace announced on October 6 (local time) that French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned less than a month after taking office.

According to AFP and Reuters, Prime Minister Lecornu submitted his resignation, which was accepted by President Emmanuel Macron. Major international media outlets noted that this marks the shortest tenure for a prime minister since the establishment of the Fifth Republic in 1958.

Prime Minister Lecornu was appointed on September 9, following the resignation of his predecessor Francois Bayrou, who stepped down after a parliamentary vote of no confidence. It had not even been a full day since Lecornu announced the formation of his cabinet on the night of October 5.

Of the 18 ministers announced, two-thirds were from the Bayrou cabinet, and many of the new ministers had also held key positions in the Macron administration. This led to criticism from both the left and right that, despite the parliamentary no-confidence vote, the existing cabinet was effectively maintained.

France is currently facing concerns over worsening fiscal conditions and political uncertainty. Prime Minister Lecornu was the fifth person appointed to the position by President Macron in the past two years.

The Financial Times pointed out that President Macron now faces a difficult choice: either appoint a new prime minister who will face challenges similar to Lecornu's, or call for new parliamentary elections.

Following news of the resignation, European stock markets plunged. France's main stock index, the CAC 40, fell by 1.76 percent. Shares of banks such as Societe Generale and Credit Agricole dropped by 4 to 5 percent, leading the decline.