The Reasons Behind the French Prime Minister Resigned Following Just 27 Days – & Potential Follow
The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, stepped down along with the cabinet, less than a month after his appointment and within moments after unveiling his ministers, significantly worsening the country's governmental turmoil.
It is the latest shock development in a series of events that suggest France, Europe's second-largest economy, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Let's examine recent developments, the causes and what might come next.
What Just Happened?
Lecornu, who was appointed 27 days ago, tendered his resignation along with the entire cabinet on Monday, barely 12 hours after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. 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 third leader post-parliament dissolution triggering snap polls conducted months ago.
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 “not take much for it to work,” however “ideological stubbornness” and “certain egos” blocked progress, he said.
His departure spooked investors, as the CAC 40 fell 2% and the euro, 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio is the EU’s third-highest after Greece and Italy, nearly double the EU's 60% limit – similar to the nearly 6% deficit forecast.
Why Did It Happen?
The roots of the crisis stem from that 2024 snap general election, which produced a split assembly split among three more or less equal blocs: left-wing groups, 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. Macron cannot stand again, and with each party keen to stake out its ground ahead of elections, compromise in the assembly has become even harder to find.
He encountered a difficult task of passing an austerity budget 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 seems to be the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains regarding the ministerial team. They claimed the similar composition failed to represent the “profound break” from previous approaches that Lecornu had promised.
Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening drew strong objections from all sides, with allies and opponents denouncing it as either too rightwing or not rightwing enough, and threatening to topple the new government.
Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, long-time finance chief, as defense head angered many lawmakers from most parties, viewing it as proof that Macron’s pro-business economic policies were not up for discussion.
Future Scenarios
The far-right National Rally led by Le Pen and Bardella has called on Macron to disband the assembly and call new votes, as leftist groups renewed demands for Macron's resignation.
Macron has three main options, each risky and uninviting. First, he could name a new prime minister. A figure from within his own camp now appears unlikely, and a centrist left candidate could undermine his pension changes.
On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would infuriate the left bloc. Due to urgent requirements to secure some agreement to at least pass a budget for this year, some analysts have suggested he might consider a non-party political technocrat.
Next, he could dissolve the national assembly and call fresh legislative elections, an option he has resisted and surveys indicate could yield another split result – or potentially usher in an RN government.
The last choice is stepping down, but again, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside before the presidential election in 2027 – an election viewed as pivotal for France, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.
