France’s outgoing Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu is initiating two days of last-ditch talks on Tuesday with party leaders, a day after his surprise resignation, seeking a path out of France’s deepening political crisis .

Lecornu tendered his and his government’s resignation on Monday morning, after his government, announced on Sunday evening, was rejected by both allies and opponents. His government was the shortest-lived administration in modern French history.

Macron tasked Lecornu on Monday with holding the talks, setting a deadline for Wednesday evening.

Politicians of various stripes expressed confusion about the president’s moves, with some arguing that Lecornu’s new task was merely an effort to buy more time nearly a month after the outgoing prime minister’s nomination.

It

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