Why the French PM Resigned After Only 27 Days – & Potential Happen Next

France's prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, stepped down together with his government, less than 30 days after taking office and just hours of the new cabinet being announced, dramatically deepening the country's governmental turmoil.

This marks another surprising turn in a series of events indicating that France, the EU’s second-biggest member state, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Let's examine what just happened, the causes and future possibilities.

What Just Happened?

The prime minister, after less than a month in office, tendered his resignation along with the entire cabinet this week, barely 12 hours after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. This made him the briefest-serving PM since the Fifth Republic began.

Aged 39, former defence minister, aligned with the president, was France’s fifth prime minister since the president’s re-election in 2022 and third leader since Macron dissolved parliament and called early legislative elections that were held last summer.

Lecornu blamed political rigidity, stating he was “ready to compromise, yet all factions demanded others accept their entire agenda.” He noted it “not take much for it to work,” however “ideological stubbornness” and “certain egos” stood in the way, he said.

The resignation spooked investors, as the CAC 40 fell 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio is the EU’s third-highest after Greece and Italy, almost twice the EU's 60% limit – similar to its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Underlying Causes

Origins of the turmoil lie in that 2024 snap general election, that resulted in a split assembly split among three nearly equal factions: left-wing groups, the far right & the president's centrist coalition, none nearing a majority.

The economic downturn has only added to that instability, as have presidential elections due in 2027. Macron cannot stand again, and with each party keen to stake out its ground before the vote, common ground in parliament has become even harder to find.

Lecornu faced the tough job to approve spending cuts in a fractured parliament aimed at reining in the large fiscal gap – a task that defeated the previous two PMs, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.

The final catalyst for his resignation seems to be response from conservative parties to the new cabinet. The party said the similar composition did not reflect the “profound break” with past politics he had pledged.

Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening prompted fierce criticism 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.

Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, long-time finance chief, to government as defence minister angered many lawmakers across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that Macron’s pro-business economic policies was non-negotiable.

Future Scenarios

Nationalist parties led by Le Pen and Bardella has called on Macron to disband the assembly and hold fresh elections, as leftist groups has reiterated longstanding calls 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 now appears unlikely, and a centrist left candidate could undermine his pension changes.

Alternatively, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would anger left-wing parties. Given the pressing need to secure some agreement to at least pass a budget for this year, experts propose he may try to turn to an independent expert.

Next, he may dissolve parliament and call fresh legislative elections, an option he has resisted and surveys indicate would probably return another divided parliament – or bring nationalists to power.

His final option is stepping down, but again, he has refused to leave prior to the 2027 vote – an election viewed as pivotal for France, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.