The former French finance chief will resume teaching in Switzerland.

France’s Bruno Le Maire resigned as Minister of the Armed Forces on Monday, less than 24 hours after being appointed to the government led by Sébastien Lecornu. His swift exit followed a political outcry, notably from within the centre-right Les Républicains, piling pressure on the new cabinet during a fraught opening.

Le Maire will now return to his academic post in Switzerland. He joined the Enterprise for Society (E4S) centre in Lausanne as a visiting professor in September 2024 and is set to teach at the University of Lausanne, the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne and the IMD business school. His courses focus on political economy and international relations.

The move comes after a long ministerial run: Le Maire served as France’s Minister of the Economy and Finance from 2017 until September 2024. He had briefly re-entered frontline politics on Sunday evening with his appointment to the Lecornu government, only to withdraw amid mounting controversy the next day.

France’s public ethics watchdog, the Haute Autorité pour la Transparence de la Vie Publique (HATVP), has previously cleared Le Maire’s academic role in Lausanne. In December 2024 it also deemed compatible, with conditions, his request to provide consulting services for the Dutch semiconductor equipment maker ASML, advising him to avoid any interest representation with current government members. He is no longer a consultant for ASML.

Le Maire’s abrupt resignation underscores the political turbulence surrounding the government led by Sébastien Lecornu and highlights the risks of high-profile appointments in a fractious climate. The backlash from parts of the French political class, particularly within Les Républicains, has left the cabinet’s early direction under scrutiny as it seeks to restore momentum after a shaky start.