The Reasons Behind the French PM Resigned After Only 27 Days – & Potential Follow

France's PM, Sébastien Lecornu, has resigned together with his government, less than 30 days following his appointment and within hours of the new cabinet being announced, significantly worsening the country's political crisis.

This marks another surprising turn following recent incidents indicating that the nation, the EU’s second-biggest member state, faces growing governance challenges. Let's examine what just happened, the causes and what might come next.

What Just Happened?

Lecornu, who was appointed 27 days ago, submitted his departure and that of his government this week, barely 12 hours after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. He became the shortest-lived prime minister since the Fifth Republic began.

The 39-year-old, ex-defense chief, aligned with the president, served as the fifth PM after Macron's second term and the third post-parliament dissolution triggering snap polls that were held last summer.

He attributed the resignation to political rigidity, stating he was “ready to compromise, yet all factions demanded every other party to adopt its full programme.” He noted it “not take much for it to work,” but “ideological stubbornness” and “personal ambitions” stood in the way, he said.

The resignation alarmed markets, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro, 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio ranks third in the EU behind Greece and Italy, almost twice the EU's 60% limit – as is the nearly 6% deficit forecast.

Why Did It Happen?

Origins of the turmoil stem from last year's sudden polls, that resulted in a hung parliament split among three nearly equal factions: left-wing groups, the far right and the president's centrist coalition, with no group coming close to a clear majority.

The economic downturn has only added to that instability, along with presidential elections due in 2027. Macron cannot stand again, and with each party keen to stake out its ground ahead of elections, common ground in parliament is increasingly elusive.

Lecornu faced a difficult task to approve spending cuts through the divided assembly targeting reduction of the large fiscal gap – a challenge that ousted his two immediate predecessors, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.

The immediate trigger leading to his exit appears to have been the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains regarding the ministerial team. The party said the similar composition did not reflect the “profound break” with past politics that Lecornu had promised.

Revealing key ministries last Sunday 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.

Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, long-time finance chief, to government as defence minister 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. Initially, he might appoint another PM. Someone from his circle now appears unlikely, and a centrist left candidate could undermine his pension changes.

Alternatively, 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 may try to turn to an independent expert.

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

The last choice is stepping down, however, 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.