France's new prime minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned less than 24 hours after announcing his Cabinet and less than a month into his tenure, amid widespread criticism that has deepened the nation's political crisis.
The French presidency said in a statement Monday that President Emmanuel Macron has accepted his resignation. Lecornu had replaced his predecessor, Francois Bayrou, to become France's fourth prime minister in barely a year.
"It would take little for it to work," Lecornu said in his resignation speech. "By being more selfless for many, by knowing how to show humility. One must always put one's country before one's party."
Macron's opponents immediately tried to capitalize on the shocking resignation, with the far-right National Rally calling on him to either call for new snap elections or resign.
"This raises a question for the President of the Republic: can he continue to resist the legislature dissolution? We have reached the end of the road," far-right leader Marine Le Pen said. "There is no other solution. The only wise course of action in these circumstances is to return to the polls."
