French politics is in turmoil again after the stunning collapse of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s government.
Here’s today’s news in brief, with all the live political reactions and analysis below.
After less than a month on the job, Lecornu submitted his government’s resignation. The 39-year-old had Sunday evening named key Cabinet ministers to their posts, but opposition parties and former minority coalition partners reacted with fury.
Many of the ministers were either holdovers from the last government or had previously served in high-level posts.
President Emmanuel Macron faces unappetizing options going forward. He could appoint yet another prime minister — effectively prolonging the crisis — call snap elections, or resign himself.
Financial markets took the news badly. The benchmark French stock index slumped as much as 3 percent, while the French government’s 10-year borrowing costs climbed to 3.57 percent, a whisker short of their highest level for the year.
Lecornu earns the dubious distinction of being the shortest-lived prime minister of the Fifth Republic, which was founded in 1958.