Overview

• The Élysée said it accepted Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu’s resignation less than a day after he unveiled an initial list of 18 ministers.
• Opposition parties prepared no-confidence moves and National Rally leader Jordan Bardella pressed for a dissolution of the Assembly.
• The short-lived lineup shifted Bruno Le Maire to defence and installed Roland Lescure at finance, while keeping Jean-Noël Barrot, Bruno Retailleau, Gérald Darmanin and Rachida Dati in place.
• Lecornu had vowed not to use Article 49.3 to force the budget and sought cross-party compromise on deficit-cutting plans.
• Successive premiers, including François Bayrou and Michel Barnier, have fallen over the austerity fight as protests and strikes over spending cuts continue nationwide.