Why the French PM Stepped Down After Just 27 Days – and Potential Follow

France's PM, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned together with his government, less than a month after taking office and just hours of the new cabinet being announced, significantly worsening the country's governmental turmoil.

This marks another surprising turn following recent incidents indicating that France, the EU’s second-biggest member state, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Here is a look at what just happened, why – and future possibilities.

What Just Happened?

Lecornu, who was appointed 27 days ago, tendered his resignation and that of his government this week, only half a day following the ministerial lineup reveal. He became the briefest-serving PM since the Fifth Republic began.

The 39-year-old, ex-defense chief, aligned with the president, was France’s fifth prime minister since the president’s re-election in 2022 and the third post-parliament dissolution triggering snap polls conducted months ago.

He attributed the resignation to political rigidity, stating he was “ready to compromise, yet all factions demanded every other party to adopt its full programme.” It would “not take much for it to work,” however “partisan attitudes” along with “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%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio is the EU’s third-highest behind Greece and Italy, almost twice the EU's 60% limit – similar to the nearly 6% deficit forecast.

Underlying Causes

Origins of the turmoil stem from that 2024 snap general election, which produced a split assembly split among three nearly equal factions: the left, nationalist right and Macron’s own centre-right alliance, none nearing a majority.

France’s financial crisis has only added to that instability, along with presidential elections due in 2027. The president is term-limited, and with each party keen to stake out its ground before the vote, common ground in parliament is increasingly elusive.

Lecornu faced the tough job of passing an austerity budget through the divided assembly aimed at reining in the yawning budget deficit – a challenge that ousted his two immediate predecessors, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.

The final catalyst leading to his exit appears to have been response from conservative parties regarding the ministerial team. They claimed the similar composition did not reflect the “profound break” with past politics he had pledged.

But announcement of the main cabinet posts last Sunday prompted fierce criticism from across the political spectrum, 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.

What Might Happen Now?

Nationalist parties of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella urged the president to dissolve parliament and call new votes, as leftist groups renewed demands for Macron's resignation.

Macron has three main options, all hazardous and none very appealing. First, he might appoint another PM. Someone from his circle seems improbable, and a centrist left candidate could undermine his pension changes.

On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would infuriate the left bloc. Given the pressing need to secure some agreement to at least pass a budget for this year, experts propose he might consider a non-party political technocrat.

Second, he could dissolve the national assembly and call fresh legislative elections, an option he has resisted and surveys indicate would probably return another divided parliament – or potentially usher in an RN government.

The last choice would be to resign, however, he has refused to leave before the presidential election in 2027 – a vote seen as a historic crossroads for France, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.