French PM Lecornu resigns hours after forming cabinet

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigned just hours after forming his new cabinet, becoming the shortest-lived prime minister in modern French history. His resignation, prompted by lack of support and criticism within the governing coalition, has plunged the country into political uncertainty. The far-right leader Marine Le Pen called for snap parliamentary elections, while other opposition figures like Jean-Luc Mélenchon demanded President Macron's resignation. Lecornu's resignation came as he faced the challenge of gaining approval for an austerity budget in a deeply divided parliament. France's public debt has reached record levels, with the debt-to-GDP ratio being the EU's third-highest.