Why France's Prime Minister Stepped Down Following Only 27 Days – and Potential Happen Next
France's prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned together with his government, less than a month following his appointment and within moments after unveiling his ministers, significantly worsening France's governmental turmoil.
It is the latest shock development in a series of events indicating that France, Europe's second-largest economy, faces growing governance challenges. Let's examine recent developments, why – and future possibilities.
Recent Events
The prime minister, after less than a month in office, tendered his resignation along with the entire cabinet this week, only half a day following the ministerial lineup reveal. He became the briefest-serving PM since the Fifth Republic began.
Aged 39, ex-defense chief, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, was France’s fifth prime minister after Macron's second term and the third since Macron dissolved parliament and called early legislative elections that were held last summer.
He attributed the resignation to political rigidity, saying he had been “ready to compromise, yet all factions demanded others accept their entire agenda.” It would “would require little to succeed,” however “partisan attitudes” along with “certain egos” stood in the way, he said.
His departure spooked investors, as the CAC 40 fell 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. The national debt ratio is the EU’s third-highest after Greece and Italy, almost twice the EU's 60% limit – similar to its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.
Underlying Causes
The roots of the crisis stem from that 2024 snap general election, which produced a hung parliament divided between three more or less equal blocs: left-wing groups, nationalist right and the president's centrist coalition, with no group coming close to a clear majority.
France’s financial crisis has only added to that instability, along with presidential elections due in 2027. The president is term-limited, as parties position themselves ahead of elections, common ground in parliament has become even harder to find.
Lecornu faced the tough job to approve spending cuts in a fractured parliament targeting reduction of the yawning budget deficit – a challenge that ousted the previous two PMs, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.
The immediate trigger leading to his exit 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.
But announcement of the main cabinet posts on Sunday evening drew strong objections from all sides, as supporters and critics condemned it for being too conservative or insufficiently so, and threatening to topple the new government.
Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, Macron’s economy minister for seven years, to government as defence minister angered many lawmakers across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that his economic agenda were not up for discussion.
Future Scenarios
Nationalist parties of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella has called on Macron to dissolve parliament and hold fresh elections, as leftist groups renewed demands for Macron's resignation.
The president faces three choices, each risky and uninviting. Initially, he might appoint another PM. A figure from within his own camp seems improbable, and a centrist left candidate would challenge his hard-won pension reform.
Alternatively, selecting a staunch conservative would anger left-wing parties. Given the pressing need to secure some agreement for approving annual spending, experts propose he might consider an independent expert.
Next, he could dissolve the national assembly and initiate new elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and surveys indicate could yield another split result – or bring nationalists to power.
The last choice would be to resign, but again, he has refused to leave prior to the 2027 vote – a vote seen as a historic crossroads for France, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.
