See Why French PM Lecornu Resigns

See Why French PM Lecornu Resigns

France’s President Emmanuel Macron on Monday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, just hours after unveiling his new cabinet, the presidency announced — a move that further deepens the country’s ongoing political stalemate.

Macron had appointed Lecornu, a former defence minister, to the role last month. However, the largely unchanged cabinet he presented late Sunday drew sharp criticism from across the political spectrum.

Lecornu faced the difficult task of securing parliamentary approval for next year’s austerity budget in a deeply fractured legislature.

His two immediate predecessors, François Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were both forced out after confrontations with lawmakers over similar spending plans.

France’s public debt recently hit a record high, with the debt-to-GDP ratio now the third highest in the European Union—behind Greece and Italy—and nearly double the 60 percent ceiling set by EU rules.

While past administrations pushed through the last three annual budgets without parliamentary votes—a controversial but constitutional procedure, Lecornu had pledged to allow lawmakers a say on the upcoming bill.

The political deadlock has persisted since Macron’s risky snap parliamentary elections last year backfired, leaving his centrist alliance without a majority in the National Assembly.