STORY: France's new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu and his government resigned on Monday (October 6), hours after Lecornu announced his cabinetline-up, making it the shortest-lived in modern French history, driving stocks and the euro sharply lower.

The swift resignation was unexpected and marked another major deepening of France's political crisis. It came after allies and foes alike threatened to topple the new government.

Speaking after tendering his resignation, Lecornu blamed the collapse on the inability of political parties to compromise.

Lecornu was prime minister for only 27 days. His government lasted 14 hours.

The far-right National Rally immediately urged President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap parliamentary election. The hard left France Unbowed said Macron himself must go.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

VIDEO SHOWS: STATEMENT FROM OUTGOING FRENCH PRIME MINISTER SEBASTIEN LECORNU

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

SHOWS: PARIS, FRANCE (OCTOBER 6, 2025) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. OUTGOING FRENCH PRIME MINISTER SEBASTIEN LECORNU WALKING TOWARDS MICROPHONE

2. LECORNU AT MICROPHONE

3. (SOUNDBITE) (French) OUTGOING FRENCH PRIME MINISTER SEBASTIEN LECORNU SAYING:

"This Monday morning, the conditions were no longer in place for me to carry out the duties of Prime Minister and allow the government to appear before the National Assembly tomorrow."

4. LECORNU AT MICROPHONE

5. (SOUNDBITE) (French) OUTGOING FRENCH PRIME MINISTER SEBASTIEN LECORNU SAYING:

"The composition of the government was not smooth and awakened some partisan appetites—sometimes, quite legitimately, linked to the upcoming presidential election."

6. JOURNALIST FILMING / LECORNU AT MICROPHONE

7. (SOUNDBITE) (French) OUTGOING FRENCH PRIME MINISTER SEBASTIEN LECORNU SAYING:

“It would take very little for it to work. I said it right here: we’ll get there, and I want to say it again. In the confidential discussions I’ve had, it would take very little for us to succeed. By being more selfless, for many, and also by showing humility — perhaps even a bit of ego suppression at times. And I have tried, at least I hope I have, to do just that and always keeping in mind the general interest and the substance. What matters is what we’re going to do, with the humility to accept that some things can be done before (the presidential election year of) 2027. Other things will be addressed later, during the debate running up to the presidential election. And fundamentally, there are many red lines, coming from the mouths of many — at least some, not all - but there are rarely any green lines. Yet the very principle of building a compromise between political parties is to be able to combine green lines while respecting a number of red lines. But we cannot be at both extremes -- some opposition parties have understood this, and I want to thank them. Now, we must be able to move forward—or at least those who want to find a path for the country must be able to move forward."

8. LECORNU AT MICROPHONE

9. (SOUNDBITE) (French) OUTGOING FRENCH PRIME MINISTER SEBASTIEN LECORNU SAYING:

"But one must always put their country before their party, and know how to listen to activists, but always think of the French people. Thank you all. I thank you." / LECORNU LEAVING