France PM Lecornu Resigns Amid Historic Government Collapse

France is experiencing significant political turmoil following the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu just hours after unveiling his cabinet, marking the shortest-lived government in the country's Fifth Republic. Lecornu's departure underscores deep political fragmentation and challenges for President Emmanuel Macron's centrist coalition, which lacks a parliamentary majority and faces pressure from both far-right and far-left factions demanding new elections or Macron's resignation. The instability has worsened France's ability to govern effectively and weakened its role as a leader in European politics, as repeated government collapses hinder strategic continuity. Financial markets reacted negatively, with France's CAC 40 index dropping nearly 2%, reflecting investor concerns over the political crisis. Opposition parties like the far-right National Rally and the far-left France Unbowed are capitalizing on the chaos to push for drastic political changes, further complicating prospects for stable governance. This turmoil also poses broader risks for European stability amid ongoing geopolitical challenges.