France's former finance minister, Bruno Le Maire, whose appointment as defense minister precipitated the resignation of premier Sébastien Lecornu, on Monday, October 6, said he was leaving the government in a bid to end the crisis.
The right-wing Les Républicains (LR) party was infuriated by the appointment of Le Maire to the defense post on Sunday, seeing him as the incarnation of President Emmanuel Macron's economic policies.
"Under these conditions, I proposed to the president to withdraw from the government without delay and to transfer my responsibilities as defense minister to the prime minister (Lecornu)," Le Maire wrote on X. "The president has accepted my proposal," he added.
There was no immediate comment from the presidency, at a time when rumors are circulating that Macron could reappoint Lecornu as a way out of the crisis. Lecornu had himself previously served as defense minister and Le Maire's comments indicated he would take on his former job. Lecornu and ministers will remain in office on a caretaker basis until a new government is formed.
LR leader and Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau had earlier Monday accused Lecornu of "hiding" Le Maire's appointment.