The Reasons Behind France's PM Resigned Following Only 27 Days – and What Could Follow

The French prime minister, the country's leader, has resigned together with the cabinet, under a month after taking office and just hours of the new cabinet being announced, dramatically deepening the country's governmental turmoil.

It is the latest shock development following recent incidents indicating that the nation, Europe's second-largest economy, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Here is a look at what just happened, why – and future possibilities.

Recent Events

Lecornu, after less than a month in office, submitted his departure 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, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, was France’s fifth prime minister since the president’s re-election in 2022 and the third post-parliament dissolution triggering snap polls that were held last summer.

Lecornu blamed political rigidity, saying he had been “willing to negotiate, yet all factions demanded 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, according to him.

His departure spooked investors, as the CAC 40 fell 2% and the euro, 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio ranks third in the EU behind Greece and Italy, nearly double the 60% permitted under EU rules – as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Underlying Causes

The roots of the crisis stem from that 2024 snap general election, that resulted in a hung parliament split among three nearly equal factions: left-wing groups, the far right and Macron’s own centre-right alliance, with no group coming close to a clear majority.

The economic downturn has only added to that instability, along with the 2027 presidential race. Macron cannot stand again, as parties position themselves before the vote, compromise in the assembly has become even harder to find.

Lecornu faced the tough job to approve spending cuts in a fractured parliament targeting reduction of the yawning budget deficit – 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. The party said the similar composition did not reflect a significant shift with past politics that Lecornu had promised.

Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening 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 from most parties, who saw it as a confirmation that Macron’s pro-business economic policies were not up for discussion.

Future Scenarios

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.

Macron has three main options, each risky and none very appealing. Initially, he could name a new prime minister. Someone from his circle now appears unlikely, while even a moderate leftwinger could undermine his pension changes.

On the other hand, selecting a staunch conservative would infuriate the left bloc. Given the pressing need to achieve a minimum of consensus to at least pass a budget for this year, experts propose he might consider an independent expert.

Second, he could dissolve the national assembly and initiate new elections, an option he has resisted and which polls suggest 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 prior to the 2027 vote – a vote seen as a historic crossroads in French politics, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.