France's political turmoil intensified as Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned just hours after unveiling his cabinet lineup.
President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of his close ally, marking one of the shortest-lived governments in modern French history.
Lecornu had been appointed nearly a month earlier amid struggles to pass a budget through a fractured parliament during a debt crisis.
His government lasted only 14 hours, following criticism from both opponents and allies over the new ministers, many of whom had served in the previous administration under Francois Bayrou.
The cabinet announcement came on Sunday evening, with a first meeting scheduled for Monday afternoon.
However, the lineup failed to satisfy demands for a break from past strategies, leading to widespread anger.
Lecornu cited difficulties in compromising, stating that each political party wanted the other to adopt its entire program.
He also blamed the egos of opposition politicians who stuck rigidly to their manifestos.
The divided parliament, split between far-right and far-left blocs since Macron's 2024 snap elections, saw immediate backlash.
Marine Le Pen of the National Rally called the cabinet pathetic and urged a return to the polls.
Her party leader, Jordan Bardella, echoed that the National Rally was ready to assume responsibilities.
Other opposition figures, including Mathilde Panot of France Unbowed and David Lisnard of the Republicans, demanded Macron's resignation or new snap elections.
The far-right National Rally stated on X that Macron must choose dissolution or resignation quickly.
Lecornu, Macron's fifth prime minister in two years, handed in his resignation, which was promptly accepted.
Macron has not yet reacted publicly, though footage showed him walking alone by the Seine.
The resignation triggered financial unease.
The CAC 40 index dropped more than 1.5 percent, the worst in Europe, with banking shares hit hard. The euro slid 0.7 percent to $1.1665.
France's instability stems from no parliamentary majority since Macron's 2022 re-election, worsened by last year's elections.
Options include new elections, Macron's resignation, or another prime minister appointment, though he has ruled out the first two previously.
Lecornu's predecessors, Bayrou and Michel Barnier, fell over public spending efforts amid scrutiny from ratings agencies and investors.