Why the French Prime Minister Resigned After Just 27 Days – & What Could Happen Next

The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, stepped down along with his government, less than 30 days following taking office and within moments after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening France's political crisis.

It is the latest shock development in a series of events that suggest the nation, Europe's second-largest economy, faces growing governance challenges. Here is a look at what just happened, the causes and what might come next.

Recent Events

The prime minister, after less than a month in office, tendered his resignation along with the entire cabinet this week, barely 12 hours following the ministerial lineup reveal. This made him the shortest-lived prime minister in modern French history.

Aged 39, former defence minister, aligned with the president, was France’s fifth prime minister since the president’s re-election in 2022 and the third since Macron dissolved parliament and called early legislative elections conducted months ago.

Lecornu blamed party-political intransigence, stating he was “ready to compromise, yet all factions demanded every other party to adopt its full programme.” He noted it “would require little to succeed,” but “partisan attitudes” and “certain egos” stood in the way, he said.

His departure spooked investors, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. The national debt ratio ranks third in the EU behind Greece and Italy, nearly double the EU's 60% limit – as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Underlying Causes

Origins of the turmoil stem from that 2024 snap general election, which produced a hung parliament split among three nearly equal factions: left-wing groups, the far right & the president's centrist coalition, none nearing a majority.

The economic downturn worsened the uncertainty, as have the 2027 presidential race. Macron cannot stand again, as parties position themselves ahead of elections, common ground in parliament is increasingly elusive.

He encountered a difficult task to approve spending cuts in a fractured parliament aimed at reining in the yawning budget deficit – a task that defeated his two immediate predecessors, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.

The final catalyst leading to his exit seems to be response from conservative parties to the new cabinet. The party said the largely unchanged lineup failed to represent the “profound break” from previous approaches he had pledged.

Revealing key ministries last Sunday 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, Macron’s economy minister for seven years, to government as defence minister angered many lawmakers from most parties, who saw it as a confirmation that his economic agenda was non-negotiable.

Future Scenarios

The far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella urged the president to dissolve parliament and call new votes, as leftist groups has reiterated longstanding calls for Macron's resignation.

The president faces three choices, all hazardous and none very appealing. First, he might appoint another PM. Someone from his circle now appears unlikely, while even a moderate leftwinger could undermine his pension changes.

On the other hand, selecting a staunch conservative would infuriate the left bloc. Due to urgent requirements to secure some agreement for approving annual spending, some analysts have suggested he may try to turn to an independent expert.

Next, he may dissolve parliament and initiate new elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and which polls suggest could yield another split result – or bring nationalists to power.

His final option would be to resign, however, he has refused to leave before the presidential election in 2027 – an election viewed as pivotal in French politics, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.