France’s President Emmanuel Macron accepted Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu’s resignation on Monday, just hours after he unveiled his cabinet.
The move has plunged the European nation further into political deadlock.
Lecornu resigned less than a month into his new job, citing that the conditions weren’t right for him to stay in office.
The largely unchanged cabinet sparked fierce criticism across the political spectrum, with many questioning its legitimacy.
Lecornu faced a daunting task in finding approval for an austerity budget in a deeply divided parliament.
His two immediate predecessors, Francois Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were ousted by the legislative chamber in a standoff over the spending plan.
France’s public debt has reached a record high, with a debt-to-GDP ratio of nearly twice the 60 per cent permitted under EU rules.
President Macron named Lecornu as Prime Minister last month, tasking him with forming a government capable of navigating a divided parliament.
Despite promising to ensure lawmakers could vote on the bill, Lecornu’s cabinet faced intense scrutiny.
The resignation has raised concerns about France’s ability to address its economic challenges and has further complicated the country’s political landscape.
With a divided parliament and a record-high public debt, France’s future remains uncertain.
AFP
