The Reasons Behind France's Prime Minister Stepped Down Following Only 27 Days – and What Could Follow
The French PM, the country's leader, has resigned together with his government, under 30 days following his appointment and within hours after unveiling his ministers, significantly worsening France's political crisis.
This marks the latest shock development in a series of events that suggest France, Europe's second-largest economy, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Here is a look at what just happened, why – and what might come next.
What Just Happened?
The prime minister, who was appointed 27 days ago, submitted his departure along with the entire cabinet this week, barely 12 hours after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. He became the shortest-lived prime minister since the Fifth Republic began.
The 39-year-old, former defence minister, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, was France’s fifth prime minister after Macron's second term and the third post-parliament dissolution triggering snap polls conducted months ago.
Lecornu blamed party-political intransigence, stating he was “willing to negotiate, yet all factions demanded every other party to adopt its full programme.” It would “not take much for it to work,” however “ideological stubbornness” and “personal ambitions” stood in the way, according to him.
The resignation alarmed markets, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. The national debt ratio ranks third in the EU after Greece and Italy, almost twice the 60% permitted under EU rules – as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.
Underlying Causes
Origins of the turmoil stem from that 2024 snap general election, that resulted in a hung parliament divided between three nearly equal factions: the left, nationalist right & Macron’s own centre-right alliance, with no group coming close to a clear majority.
The economic downturn has only added to that instability, along with presidential elections due in 2027. Macron cannot stand again, as parties position themselves before the vote, common ground in parliament has become even harder to find.
Lecornu faced the tough job to approve spending cuts through the divided assembly targeting reduction of the yawning budget deficit – a task that defeated his two immediate predecessors, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.
The final catalyst for his resignation appears to have been response from conservative parties to the new cabinet. The party said the similar composition did not reflect the “profound break” from previous approaches that Lecornu had promised.
Revealing key ministries last Sunday drew strong objections from all sides, with allies and opponents denouncing it for being too conservative or insufficiently so, and threatening to topple the new government.
Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, long-time finance chief, as defense head particularly enraged politicians across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that his economic agenda was non-negotiable.
Future Scenarios
Nationalist parties led by Le Pen and Bardella has called on Macron to disband the assembly and hold fresh elections, while the radical left France Unbowed renewed demands for the president himself to step down.
The president faces three choices, all hazardous and uninviting. First, he could name a new prime minister. A figure from within his own camp now appears unlikely, while even a moderate leftwinger would challenge his hard-won pension reform.
On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would infuriate the left bloc. Given the pressing need to secure some agreement for approving annual spending, experts propose he may try to turn to an independent expert.
Second, he could dissolve the national assembly and call fresh legislative elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and surveys indicate would probably return another divided parliament – or bring nationalists to power.
His final option would be to resign, but again, he has refused to leave before the presidential election in 2027 – an election viewed as pivotal for France, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.
