Lecornu, a 39-year-old former defence minister and close ally of Macron, was France's fifth prime minister in under two years. His resignation comes just 27 days after his appointment.
He had been appointed in late September following the collapse of François Bayrou's government, which fell after parliament rejected its austerity budget aimed at cutting €44 billion in public spending.
In a brief statement outside the Hôtel de Matignon, Lecornu criticised political factions for their unwillingness to compromise.
'I was ready for compromise, but all parties wanted the other party to adopt their entire programme,' he said. He added that parties needed to 'cast some egos aside' to make governance work.
The new cabinet, announced on Sunday evening, provoked immediate backlash from both allies and opponents. Critics argued it was either too right-wing or insufficiently reformist, raising doubts about its viability in a fragmented parliament where no party holds a majority.
Several groups have since called for early elections, with far-right National Rally leaders Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella urging Macron to dissolve the National Assembly.
The resignation has sent shockwaves through France's financial markets. Paris stocks fell sharply, with Societe Generale dropping over 6% and BNP Paribas and Credit Agricole also down, while the CAC 40 index closed 1.5% lower. The euro weakened against both the dollar and sterling, and French government borrowing costs rose to levels last seen during the previous political stalemate.
France's political turbulence has persisted since snap parliamentary elections in July 2024 produced a hung parliament. Attempts to govern have repeatedly faltered, leaving Macron facing mounting pressure to stabilise the country ahead of the 2027 presidential election.
Far-left leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon called for Macron's impeachment, while the far-right pushed for new elections, signalling that the country's political crisis shows no immediate signs of easing.
Lecornu's resignation marks one of the shortest tenures for a French prime minister in recent history and brings to the fore the ongoing fragility of governance in Paris.
Wycliffe Nyamasege
