French Government Collapses Within Hours, Deepening National Political Crisis

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned just hours after unveiling his new cabinet, marking the shortest-lived government in modern French history and plunging the country into deeper political turmoil. His appointment and cabinet picks sparked intense criticism from both allies and opponents, who found the lineup either too right-wing or insufficiently so, highlighting the fragmented and unstable nature of France's parliament where no group holds a majority. President Emmanuel Macron, who appointed Lecornu last month, accepted the resignation amid calls from the far-right National Rally for snap elections and demands from the left for Macron's resignation, revealing deep political divisions and a crisis of governance. The political deadlock follows Macron's gamble on snap parliamentary elections last year, which backfired and left his pro-Macron bloc in a minority, further destabilizing the government. Analysts note that the 1958 constitution aimed at stable governance is being tested by the current fragmented parliament dominated by far-right and hard-left forces, complicating efforts to pass crucial legislation such as the 2026 budget. With no clear path to stable governance, many see fresh elections as the only viable option, though these could perpetuate the current political impasse ahead of the pivotal 2027 presidential elections.