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

The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned along with his government, less than a month after his appointment and within moments of the new cabinet being announced, significantly worsening France's political crisis.

This marks another surprising turn following recent incidents indicating that the nation, Europe's second-largest economy, faces growing governance challenges. Let's examine what just happened, why – and future possibilities.

What Just Happened?

The prime minister, who was appointed 27 days ago, tendered his resignation and that of his government on Monday, only half a day after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. He became the shortest-lived prime minister in modern French history.

The 39-year-old, ex-defense chief, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, served as the fifth PM since the president’s re-election in 2022 and third leader post-parliament dissolution and called early legislative elections that were held last summer.

He attributed the resignation to party-political intransigence, saying he had been “ready to compromise, yet all factions demanded every other party to adopt its full programme.” It would “would require little to succeed,” however “ideological stubbornness” and “personal ambitions” stood in the way, according to him.

The resignation spooked investors, as the CAC 40 fell 2% and the euro, 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio ranks third in the EU after Greece and Italy, almost twice the 60% permitted under EU rules – as is the nearly 6% deficit forecast.

Why Did It Happen?

Origins of the turmoil lie in that 2024 snap general election, which produced a split assembly divided between three nearly equal factions: the left, the far right & the president's centrist coalition, none nearing a majority.

France’s financial crisis has only added to that instability, as have presidential elections due in 2027. Macron cannot stand again, as parties position themselves ahead of elections, compromise in the assembly is increasingly elusive.

Lecornu faced a difficult task to approve spending cuts in a fractured parliament targeting reduction of the large fiscal gap – a task that defeated the previous two PMs, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.

The immediate trigger for his resignation appears to have been the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains to the new cabinet. They claimed the similar composition did not reflect the “profound break” from previous approaches that Lecornu had promised.

Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening prompted fierce criticism from all sides, with allies and opponents denouncing 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, to government as defence minister particularly enraged politicians across factions, who saw it as a confirmation 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 call new votes, while the radical left France Unbowed renewed demands for Macron's resignation.

Macron has three main options, all hazardous and uninviting. First, he could name a new prime minister. A figure from within his own camp now appears unlikely, while even a moderate leftwinger would challenge his hard-won pension reform.

On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would infuriate the left bloc. Due to urgent requirements to achieve a minimum of consensus to at least pass a budget for this year, some analysts have suggested he might consider a non-party political technocrat.

Next, he may dissolve parliament and call fresh legislative elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and surveys indicate could yield another split result – or bring nationalists to power.

His final option is stepping down, but again, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside before the presidential election in 2027 – an election viewed as pivotal in French politics, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.