Image of the French Minister Sébastien Lecornu.

France plunged deeper into political deadlock on Monday after President Emmanuel Macron accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu, only hours after he presented his new cabinet.

Lecornu, a former defence minister appointed last month, had unveiled an almost unchanged cabinet late Sunday. The announcement sparked sharp criticism across the political spectrum, compounding the challenges already facing his government.

At the heart of the crisis is a contentious austerity budget for next year, which Lecornu had vowed to bring to a parliamentary vote. France’s two previous prime ministers, François Bayrou and Michel Barnier, were forced out after clashes with lawmakers over the same issue.

France’s public finances have added urgency to the standoff. Official data last week showed the country’s debt-to-GDP ratio has surged to one of the highest in the European Union—behind only Greece and Italy—and nearly double the 60 percent ceiling set under EU rules.

While Macron’s previous governments pushed through three consecutive budgets without a vote, a constitutional option heavily criticised by the opposition, Lecornu promised to restore parliamentary debate.

The stalemate stems from Macron’s failed gamble on snap parliamentary elections last year, which left his centrist alliance without a majority in the National Assembly. The weakened position has emboldened rivals on both the left and right, further complicating efforts to pass reforms and stabilise the country’s finances.