While France has a long history of hefty overspending, economists say political turmoil – which has stalled policymaking – is bringing the country’s debt problem to a head.

France's new prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, announces he will not use special constitutional powers to force his budget through parliament

President Emmanuel Macron’s inability to find a government that can pass a new budget is hobbling his efforts to influence Europe’s agenda.

The resignation of another French prime minister deepens the country's political crisis and draws a call from far-right leader Marine Le Pen for national elections.

Emmanuel Macron will not name a prime minister from the left later on Friday, leftist party chiefs said after talks with the French president, with their indignant response suggesting his future government will be as fragile as those that preceded it.

America is not the only Western democracy mired in a political crisis brought on by the brinksmanship of feckless politicos. Americans can find company in their misery among the French, who have seen four prime ministers come and go in the past 18 months.

The surprise resignation of Sébastien Lecornu after less than a month in office intensified concerns that France would be unable to tackle its enormous debt pile.

The challenges reflected mounting discontent with Ursula von der Leyen's leadership and tested the cohesion of the coalition led by her conservative European People's Party.

Sebastien Lecornu's remarks came as he was set to wrap up talks with various parties and report back to President Emmanuel Macron on whether he has found a way to end France's worst political crisis in decades.