France's new prime minister resigns

His resignation was unexpected and unprecedented and marked another major deepening of France's political crisis. French stocks dropped sharply, as did the euro, on news of the resignation. |

After weeks of consultations with political parties across the board, Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, on Sunday appointed his ministers, and the cabinethad been set to hold its first meeting on Monday afternoon.

But the new cabinet line-up had angered opponents and allies alike, who either found it too rightwing or not enough, raising questions on how long it could last, at a time when France is already mired deep in political crisis, with no group holding a majority in a fragmented parliament.

Lecornu handed his resignation to Macron on Monday morning.

"Mr. Sebastien Lecornu has submitted the resignation of his Government to the President of the Republic, who has accepted it," the Elysee's press office said.

French politics has become increasingly unstable since Macron's re-election in 2022 for want of any party or grouping holding a parliamentary majority.