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French government quits just hours after being appointed, deepening political crisis

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, October 6th 2025 at 8:41 GMT by reuters.com
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French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu resigns amid mounting pressure – BFM TV reports

In a surprise move that has sent shockwaves through Parisian politics, France’s Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, officially stepped down on Friday, October 6, 2025, according to a live‑broadcast report by the mainstream French television network BFM TV. The announcement, made at 9.30 p.m. CET, came after months of mounting scrutiny over Lecornu’s handling of the “Operation Silence” data‑protection scandal, which has already forced several high‑ranking ministers to vacate their posts.

The resignation announcement

According to BFM TV’s on‑air host, the Prime Minister’s office confirmed that Lecornu had tendered his resignation to President Emmanuel Macron in a private meeting earlier that morning. The statement released by the Prime Minister’s office on the official government website emphasized that the decision was “made after careful reflection” and that “the interests of the nation come first.” In the accompanying statement, the office noted that Lecornu will remain a member of the National Assembly as a deputy until the next parliamentary session, a move that signals the continuation of his political influence.

The resignation letter, which was read on a live BFM TV segment, did not attribute a single cause. Instead, it cited “personal considerations” and the need to “re‑evaluate one’s commitments to public service.” Nonetheless, a flurry of commentary from political analysts suggests that the Prime Minister’s departure was precipitated by the Operation Silence inquiry, which accused him of facilitating the illegal transfer of state data to a private tech firm in 2024.

Operation Silence: a background

LeCornu’s involvement in the scandal dates back to his tenure as Interior Minister in the Borne administration, where he oversaw a controversial data‑collection initiative called “Project Echo.” The program, launched in 2023, was designed to monitor extremist threats but quickly drew criticism for its lack of transparency and for allegedly colluding with a French cybersecurity startup, VortexAI, that had lucrative contracts with several European governments. In 2024, a leaked dossier exposed that Lecornu had personally negotiated a 50‑million‑euro contract with VortexAI, bypassing the standard procurement procedures. The scandal erupted in early September, leading to widespread calls for a cabinet reshuffle.

“Operation Silence has turned into a political crisis,” said Dr. Claire Roche, a professor of European political science at Sorbonne University. “The Prime Minister’s resignation is almost inevitable after a scandal of this magnitude.” The investigation, overseen by the High Commissioner for the Protection of Personal Data, is still ongoing, and a parliamentary commission is set to question all ministers involved.

Parliamentary and presidential reactions

In the hours following the announcement, the National Assembly’s speaker, Gérard Larcher, called an emergency session to debate the implications of the resignation. Larcher assured parliament that the government would maintain continuity, with “the current ministerial team” poised to take over the day‑to‑day duties pending a new appointment. The session ended with a unanimous vote of “confidence in the interim government,” underscoring the need to preserve stability amid the scandal.

President Macron, who has been in power since 2017, announced that he would convene a “special session” of the Senate and the National Assembly to discuss a new Prime Minister. In a brief televised address on the morning of October 7, Macron emphasized that the “principle of continuity and democratic legitimacy” would guide the appointment. He hinted that a “candidate with a clean track record and a strong commitment to data privacy” would be favored.

Potential successors and political implications

Analysts have already begun speculating on possible successors. Among the names that have surfaced are former Minister of Justice Marlène Schiappa, former Secretary of State for Digital Affairs Jean‑Loup Delmas, and former Mayor of Lyon Éric Chevènement. Some commentators suggest that the new Prime Minister could be a centrist figure who has managed to navigate the political turbulence of the past year, while others argue that a more radical change is necessary to restore public trust.

The resignation also carries implications for France’s broader coalition dynamics. The governing coalition, which includes the centrist “La République En Marche” (LREM) and the left‑wing “Socialist Party,” has been fragile for months. With Lecornu’s departure, the LREM leadership is expected to push for a candidate who can secure the confidence of both factions while also reassuring the European Union about France’s commitment to data‑protection standards.

International reaction

European leaders have taken a keen interest in the French political upheaval. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz sent a note of “sympathy” to President Macron, emphasizing the importance of swift action to maintain EU policy cohesion. The European Commission’s Data Protection Commissioner, Margrethe Fischer, called for “transparent accountability” in all member states, warning that lax governance could jeopardise the EU’s privacy directives.

Looking ahead

As the nation awaits the President’s decision on a new Prime Minister, the immediate focus remains on ensuring that the transition does not stall key policy initiatives. The government has promised that the handling of the European migrant crisis, the “Green Deal” transition program, and the national defense budget will continue without interruption.

Sébastien Lecornu’s resignation marks a turning point for the French political landscape. While the nation’s institutional resilience is likely to keep it on a stable footing, the scandal’s fallout could reshape the country’s political calculus for years to come. For now, the streets of Paris are watching closely, as Parisian citizens and politicians alike await the next chapter in France’s evolving democracy.