Why France's PM Resigned Following Only 27 Days – and What Could Happen Next

The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned along with the cabinet, less than 30 days following his appointment and within hours after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening France's governmental turmoil.

It is the latest shock development in a series of events indicating that the nation, Europe's second-largest economy, faces growing governance challenges. Let's examine what just happened, why – and what might come next.

What Just Happened?

The prime minister, who was appointed 27 days ago, submitted his departure and that of his government this week, barely 12 hours after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. He became the shortest-lived prime minister in modern French history.

Aged 39, ex-defense chief, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, was France’s fifth prime minister since the president’s re-election in 2022 and the third post-parliament dissolution triggering snap polls that were held last summer.

He attributed the resignation to political rigidity, saying he had been “willing to negotiate, but every party wanted every other party to adopt its full programme.” He noted it “would require little to succeed,” however “partisan attitudes” along with “personal ambitions” blocked progress, he said.

His departure spooked investors, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro, 0.7%. The national debt ratio ranks third in the EU after Greece and Italy, almost twice the 60% permitted under EU rules – similar to its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Underlying Causes

The roots of the crisis stem from that 2024 snap general election, that resulted in a hung parliament divided between three more or less equal blocs: left-wing groups, the far right & Macron’s own centre-right alliance, with no group coming close to a clear majority.

France’s financial crisis worsened the uncertainty, along with presidential elections due in 2027. Macron cannot stand again, as parties position themselves before the vote, compromise in the assembly is increasingly elusive.

Lecornu faced a difficult task to approve spending cuts in a fractured parliament targeting reduction of the yawning budget deficit – a challenge that ousted the previous two PMs, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.

The final catalyst leading to his exit seems to be response from conservative parties regarding the ministerial team. They claimed the similar composition did not reflect a significant shift from previous approaches he had pledged.

Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening drew strong objections from all sides, as supporters and critics condemned it for being too conservative or insufficiently so, and endangering its stability.

Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, long-time finance chief, as defense head angered many lawmakers across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that his economic agenda was non-negotiable.

What Might Happen Now?

The far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella urged the president to disband the assembly and hold fresh elections, while the radical left France Unbowed has reiterated longstanding calls for Macron's resignation.

Macron has three main options, all hazardous and none very appealing. First, he might appoint another PM. A figure from within his own camp seems improbable, while even a moderate leftwinger would challenge his hard-won pension reform.

Alternatively, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would infuriate the left bloc. Due to urgent requirements to achieve a minimum of consensus to at least pass a budget for this year, some analysts have suggested he may try to turn to an independent expert.

Next, he could dissolve the national assembly and call fresh legislative elections, an option he has resisted and which polls suggest could yield another split result – or bring nationalists to power.

The last choice is stepping down, however, he has refused to leave before the presidential election in 2027 – an election viewed as pivotal for France, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.