Why France's Prime Minister Stepped Down Following Only 27 Days – and What Could Happen Next

The French prime minister, the country's leader, stepped down together with his government, less than a month after taking office and just hours of the new cabinet being announced, dramatically deepening the country's governmental turmoil.

This marks the latest shock development following recent incidents that suggest France, Europe's second-largest economy, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Here is a look at recent developments, the causes 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, barely 12 hours after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. This made him the shortest-lived prime minister in modern French history.

The 39-year-old, former defence minister, aligned with the president, served as the fifth PM since the president’s re-election in 2022 and the third post-parliament dissolution triggering snap polls that were held last summer.

He attributed the resignation to political rigidity, stating he was “willing to negotiate, yet all factions demanded every other party to adopt its full programme.” It would “not take much for it to work,” but “partisan attitudes” along with “personal ambitions” stood in the way, according to him.

The resignation 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 after Greece and Italy, almost twice the 60% permitted under EU rules – similar to its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Underlying Causes

The roots of the crisis lie in that 2024 snap general election, which produced a split assembly divided between 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, as have the 2027 presidential race. The president is term-limited, and with each party keen to stake out its ground 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 challenge that ousted his two immediate predecessors, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.

The final catalyst for his resignation seems to be the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains to the new cabinet. They claimed the similar composition failed to represent the “profound break” with past politics that Lecornu had promised.

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, long-time finance chief, to government as defence minister angered many lawmakers across factions, viewing it as proof that his economic agenda were not up for discussion.

What Might Happen Now?

The far-right National Rally led by Le Pen and Bardella has called on Macron to disband the assembly and hold fresh elections, as leftist groups renewed demands for the president himself to step down.

Macron has three main options, each risky and uninviting. Initially, he might appoint another PM. Someone from his circle now appears unlikely, and a centrist left candidate would challenge his hard-won pension reform.

On the other hand, selecting a staunch conservative 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 an independent expert.

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.

The last choice is stepping down, however, he has refused to leave before the presidential election in 2027 – an election viewed as pivotal for France, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.