The Reasons Behind France's Prime Minister Stepped Down Following Just 27 Days – and Potential Happen Next
The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned along with his government, under a month following his appointment and just moments after unveiling his ministers, significantly worsening France's governmental turmoil.
This marks the latest shock development following recent incidents that suggest the nation, the EU’s second-biggest member state, faces growing governance challenges. Here is a look at what just happened, why – and what might come next.
Recent Events
The prime minister, after less than a month in office, tendered his resignation and that of his government this week, barely 12 hours after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. He became the shortest-lived prime minister since the Fifth Republic began.
Aged 39, ex-defense chief, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, was France’s fifth prime minister since the president’s re-election in 2022 and third leader post-parliament dissolution and called early legislative elections that were held last summer.
Lecornu blamed party-political intransigence, stating he was “ready to compromise, but every party wanted others accept their entire agenda.” He noted it “would require little to succeed,” however “ideological stubbornness” and “personal ambitions” blocked progress, he said.
His departure alarmed markets, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. The national debt ratio is the EU’s third-highest after Greece and Italy, nearly double the 60% permitted under EU rules – as is the nearly 6% deficit forecast.
Underlying Causes
Origins of the turmoil stem from that 2024 snap general election, which produced a hung parliament divided between three more or less equal blocs: the left, the far right & the president's centrist coalition, with no group coming close to a clear majority.
The economic downturn worsened the uncertainty, along with the 2027 presidential race. Macron cannot stand again, as parties position themselves before the vote, common ground in parliament is increasingly elusive.
Lecornu faced a difficult task of passing an austerity budget through the divided assembly aimed at reining in the yawning budget deficit – a challenge that ousted the previous two PMs, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.
The immediate trigger leading to his exit seems to be the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains to the new cabinet. They claimed the similar composition failed to represent a significant shift with past politics that Lecornu had promised.
But announcement of the main cabinet posts 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, long-time finance chief, to government as defence minister particularly enraged politicians across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that his economic agenda were not up for discussion.
What Might Happen Now?
The far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella urged the president to dissolve parliament and hold fresh elections, while the radical left France Unbowed 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 would challenge his hard-won pension reform.
On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would anger left-wing parties. Due to urgent requirements to secure some agreement for approving annual spending, experts propose he might consider an independent expert.
Second, he may dissolve parliament 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.
His final option would be to resign, however, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside 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.