The Reasons Behind France's PM Stepped Down After Just 27 Days – and What Could Happen Next
France's PM, the country's leader, has resigned together with the cabinet, less than 30 days after taking office and within moments after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening France's political crisis.
This marks the latest shock development following recent incidents that suggest the nation, the EU’s second-biggest member state, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Here is a look at recent developments, the causes and what might come next.
What Just Happened?
The prime minister, after less than a month in office, submitted his departure along with the entire cabinet on Monday, only half a day after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. This made him the briefest-serving PM in modern French history.
Aged 39, ex-defense chief, aligned with the president, served as the fifth PM after Macron's second term and third leader since Macron dissolved parliament triggering snap polls conducted months ago.
He attributed the resignation to party-political intransigence, stating he was “ready to compromise, but every party wanted others accept their entire agenda.” It would “not take much for it to work,” but “ideological stubbornness” along with “personal ambitions” blocked progress, according to him.
His departure alarmed markets, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro, 0.7%. The national debt ratio ranks third in the EU behind Greece and Italy, nearly double the 60% permitted under EU rules – as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.
Why Did It Happen?
Origins of the turmoil lie in last year's sudden polls, that resulted in a split assembly split among three nearly equal factions: the left, the far right and the president's centrist coalition, none nearing a majority.
France’s financial crisis worsened the uncertainty, as have presidential elections due in 2027. The president is term-limited, and with each party keen to stake out its ground before the vote, compromise in the assembly has become even harder to find.
Lecornu faced the tough job to approve spending cuts in a fractured parliament targeting reduction of the large fiscal gap – a task that defeated the previous two PMs, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.
The final catalyst for his resignation appears to have been the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains regarding the ministerial team. They claimed the largely unchanged lineup failed to represent a significant shift from previous approaches he had pledged.
Revealing key ministries last Sunday drew strong objections from across the political spectrum, as supporters and critics condemned it as either too rightwing or not rightwing enough, and threatening to topple the new government.
The return of Bruno Le Maire, Macron’s economy minister for seven years, as defense head particularly enraged politicians across factions, viewing it as proof that his economic agenda was non-negotiable.
What Might Happen Now?
Nationalist parties led by Le Pen and Bardella urged the president to dissolve parliament and hold fresh elections, as leftist groups renewed demands for the president himself to step down.
The president faces three choices, each risky and uninviting. Initially, he could name a new prime minister. A figure from within his own camp now appears unlikely, 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.
Second, he may dissolve parliament and initiate new elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and which polls suggest would probably return another divided parliament – or bring nationalists to power.
The last choice is stepping down, 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.
