10 h. ago What happened on a chaotic day in French politics – and what next?

Sébastien Lecornu agreed two days’ extension to his 27-day premiership in last-ditch effort to form governmentMacron makes last-ditch effort to retain French PM after rapid resignationEurope live – latest updatesEven by recent standards, Monday was a day of high drama in France’s corridors of power.In the morning, hours after his new cabinet was announced and less than a month after his appointment, the prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, resigned along with his government. Continue reading...

Politics

16 h. ago French stocks and bonds slump as ANOTHER Prime Minister resigns

French stocks and bonds were sold off on Monday morning after Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu unexpectedly resigned after just less than a month in charge.

Politics

16 h. ago Why has France’s PM resigned after 27 days – and what could happen next?

Sébastien Lecornu has blamed ‘partisan attitudes’ and ‘certain egos’ after becoming latest casualty of crisis that began with 2024 snap electionEurope live – latest updatesFrance’s prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned along with his government, less than a month after his appointment and within hours of the new cabinet being announced, dramatically deepening the country’s political crisis.It is the latest shock development in a series of events that suggest France, the EU’s second-biggest member state, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Here is a look at what just happened, why – and what might come next. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigns after less than a month in office

Mr Lecornu's choice of ministers had been criticised across the political spectrum

Politics

19 h. ago France loses yet another prime minister as Sebastien Lecornu sensationally quits plunging country into deeper crisis

Sebastien Lecornu handed his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron on Monday morning

Politics

19 h. ago France’s PM resigns after less than a month amid widespread criticism of new cabinet

Sébastien Lecornu resigns after Emmanuel Macron unveiled largely unchanged cabinet lineupFrance’s president, Emmanuel Macron, accepted the resignation of the prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, the presidency said on Monday, plunging the country further into political deadlock.The largely unchanged cabinet lineup Macron announced late on Sunday was met with fierce criticism across the political spectrum. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Macron appoints new French government in attempt to end political deadlock

Rivals say president’s latest cabinet represents unwelcome continuity and hard-left party vows to file no-confidence motion amid fraught budget talksFrench president Emmanuel Macron has named a new government as he struggles to pull the country out of a political crisis, while rivals threatened to topple the lineup quickly if it failed to break with Macron’s past policies.The new cabinet was unveiled nearly a month after the appointment of prime minister Sebastien Lecornu, who sought to obtain cross-party support in a deeply divided parliament. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Strike action across France as hundreds of thousands march to demand PM rethinks budget cuts

Sébastien Lecornu, who has recently taken office, faces pressure to act on wages, pensions and public services as disruption is caused across the countryHundreds of thousands of people have marched in street demonstrations across France as trade unions held a day of strike action to pressure the new prime minister Sébastien Lecornu to rethink budget cuts and act on wages, pensions and public services.There was disruption to public transport as train, bus and tram drivers went on strike, hospital staff joined protests and nine out of 10 pharmacies were closed as pharmacists protested pricing policies. Around one in six teachers at primary and secondary schools went on strike, as well as school canteen staff and monitors. Several high schools from Paris to Amiens and Le Havre were blockaded by students. Protesters held more than 250 demonstrations and marched in cities from Paris to Marseille, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Strike action across France as hundreds of thousands join protests

Disruption seen across country as PM Sébastien Lecornu urged to rethink budget cutsHundreds of thousands of people have marched in street demonstrations across France as trade unions held a day of strike action to pressure the new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, to rethink budget cuts and act on wages, pensions and public services.There was disruption to public transport as train, bus and tram drivers went on strike, hospital staff joined protests and nine out of 10 pharmacies were closed as pharmacists protested against pricing policies. About one in six teachers at primary and secondary schools went on strike, as well as school canteen staff and monitors. Several high schools from Paris to Amiens and Le Havre were blockaded by students. Protesters held more than 250 demonstrations and marched in cities from Paris to Marseille, Nantes, Lyon and Montpellier. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago France’s credit rating downgraded, with debt forecast to keep rising amid political turmoil

Fitch downgrade to lowest level on record complicates new prime minister Sebastien Lecornu and President Emmanuel Macron’s efforts to control France’s financesThe Fitch agency downgraded France’s credit rating on Friday, as President Emmanuel Macron struggles with political instability and disagreements on how to put the country’s strained public finances in order.The US rating agency, one of the top global institutions gauging the financial solidity of sovereign borrowers, downgraded France on its ability to pay back debts, from “AA-” to “A+”, the country’s lowest level on record at a major credit rating agency. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago New French PM Sébastien Lecornu promises ‘profound break’ with past politics

Lecornu, 39, faces difficult task of gaining enough support from divided parliament to pass a budgetThe new French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has promised a “profound break” with past politics as he took over from the unpopular centrist François Bayrou, who was ousted this week over a proposed budget squeeze.Lecornu, 39, who said “humility” was the key approach, now faces the difficult task of gaining enough support from France’s divided parliament to pass a budget if he is to avoid being swiftly ousted in the same way as Bayrou, and before him, the rightwing Michel Barnier, who only lasted three months. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Macron appoints new Prime Minister just 24 hours after François Bayrou lost confidence vote: Defence minister, 39, becomes country's fourth PM in a year

French President Macron late Tuesday appointed Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu as France's new prime minister, the country's fourth in about a year.

Politics

3 w. ago Macron appoints ally Sébastien Lecornu as France’s prime minister

New premier will have the tricky task of trying to secure parliamentary approval for a budget

Politics

3 w. ago Macron appoints new Prime Minister just 24 hours after François Bayrou lost confidence vote: Defence minister, 39, country's fourth PM in a year

French President Macron late Tuesday appointed Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu as France's new prime minister, the country's fourth in about a year.

Politics

3 w. ago Macron appoints Sébastien Lecornu as France’s new prime minister

Defence minister has served in all of the president’s governments

Politics

4 w. ago France plunged into chaos as prime minister loses confidence vote

François Bayrou to resign after just nine months in office

Politics