The Reasons Behind France's Prime Minister Resigned After Just 27 Days – and Potential Happen Next

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

This marks the latest shock development in a series of events indicating that the nation, 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 and that of his government this week, barely 12 hours following the ministerial lineup reveal. He became the shortest-lived prime minister since the Fifth Republic began.

The 39-year-old, former defence minister, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, was France’s fifth prime minister after Macron's second term and the third post-parliament dissolution and called early legislative elections conducted months ago.

Lecornu blamed political rigidity, stating he was “ready to compromise, but every party wanted every other party to adopt its full programme.” He noted it “would require little to succeed,” but “partisan attitudes” along with “certain egos” stood in the way, according to him.

The resignation spooked investors, as the CAC 40 fell 2% and the euro, 0.7%. The national debt 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 last year's sudden polls, which produced a hung parliament divided between three more or less equal blocs: the left, nationalist right & Macron’s own centre-right alliance, with no group coming close to a clear majority.

The economic downturn worsened the uncertainty, as have presidential elections due in 2027. Macron cannot stand again, as parties position themselves ahead of elections, common ground in parliament has become even harder to find.

Lecornu faced the tough job 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. The party said the largely unchanged lineup did not reflect a significant shift with past politics that Lecornu had promised.

But announcement of the main cabinet posts last Sunday drew strong objections 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, long-time finance chief, as defense head particularly enraged politicians across factions, viewing it as proof that Macron’s pro-business economic policies were not up for discussion.

Future Scenarios

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 has reiterated longstanding calls for the president himself to step down.

The president faces three choices, each risky and none very appealing. First, he might appoint another PM. A figure from within his own camp seems improbable, while even a moderate leftwinger would challenge his hard-won pension reform.

Alternatively, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would infuriate the left bloc. Due to urgent requirements to secure some agreement for approving annual spending, experts propose 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 would probably return another divided parliament – or bring nationalists to power.

The last choice is stepping down, however, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside prior to the 2027 vote – an election viewed as pivotal in French politics, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.