France's new prime minister resigns hours after naming cabinet

France's new Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned on Monday, just hours after appointing his cabinet, in a surprise move that further deepened the country's ongoing political crisis.

Lecornu, a close ally of President Emmanuel Macron, had spent weeks consulting with political parties before naming his ministers on October 5. The cabinet was expected to hold its first meeting the following day. However, the lineup drew criticism across the political spectrum – some said it leaned too right, while others argued it did not go far enough.

"Mr. Sebastien Lecornu has submitted the resignation of his government to the President of the Republic, who has accepted it," the Elysee Palace said in a statement.

Appointed just last month, Lecornu was Macron's fifth Prime Minister in two years. His abrupt resignation highlights the volatility of French politics since Macron's 2022 re-election, when no party or coalition secured a parliamentary majority.

A snap parliamentary election called last year further fractured the political landscape, leaving France's political landscape deeply divided.

Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella called for another election following Lecornu's resignation. "There can be no return to stability without a return to the polls and the dissolution of the National Assembly," he said.