In a dramatic turn of events, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu has resigned less than 24 hours after unveiling his cabinet. Lecornu, a staunch ally of President Emmanuel Macron, cited the inability to fulfill necessary conditions for his role, criticizing political parties for their refusal to compromise. The announcement was made by the Elysée Palace following an hour-long meeting between Lecornu and Macron on Monday morning. This abrupt decision comes just 26 days after Lecornu assumed office, succeeding François Bayrou, whose government collapsed amid widespread criticism. The National Assembly had vehemently opposed Lecornu’s cabinet, which bore striking similarities to Bayrou’s, and threatened to vote it down. Calls for early elections have intensified, with far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen urging Macron to step down, accusing him of plunging the country into crisis. Lecornu, France’s fifth prime minister in under two years, lambasted political factions for their ‘partisan appetites’ and lack of humility during his brief tenure. The resignation underscores the deepening instability in French politics, which has been in disarray since the July 2024 snap elections resulted in a hung parliament. The inability to pass crucial legislation, including Bayrou’s austerity budget, has exacerbated France’s economic woes, with a deficit of 5.8% of GDP and a national debt of 114% of GDP. The Paris stock exchange reacted negatively to the news, with stocks plummeting sharply.