Why the French Prime Minister Stepped Down After Just 27 Days – & What Could Happen Next

The French prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, stepped down together with the cabinet, under a month following taking office and just hours after unveiling his ministers, significantly worsening France's governmental turmoil.

It is another surprising turn in a series of events that suggest the nation, the EU’s second-biggest member state, faces growing governance challenges. Here is a look at recent developments, the causes and what might come next.

Recent Events

Lecornu, who was appointed 27 days ago, submitted his departure and that of his government this week, barely 12 hours following the ministerial lineup reveal. This made him the shortest-lived prime minister in modern French history.

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 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,” however “partisan attitudes” and “certain egos” blocked progress, according to him.

The resignation 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 – similar to 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 split assembly split among three more or less equal blocs: left-wing groups, the far right and Macron’s own centre-right alliance, with no group coming close to a clear majority.

France’s financial crisis worsened the uncertainty, along with presidential elections due in 2027. The president is term-limited, as parties position themselves before the vote, common ground in parliament is increasingly elusive.

He encountered the tough job to approve spending cuts in a fractured parliament aimed at reining in the large fiscal gap – a challenge that ousted the previous two PMs, 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 a significant shift with past politics that Lecornu had promised.

Revealing key ministries last Sunday drew strong objections from all sides, as supporters and critics condemned it for being too conservative or insufficiently so, and endangering its stability.

The return of Bruno Le Maire, Macron’s economy minister for seven years, to government as defence minister angered many lawmakers across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that Macron’s pro-business economic policies were not up for discussion.

Future Scenarios

Nationalist parties led by Le Pen and Bardella urged the president to dissolve parliament and hold fresh elections, as leftist groups has reiterated longstanding calls for the president himself to step down.

Macron has three main options, each risky and none very appealing. Initially, he might appoint another PM. A figure from within his own camp seems improbable, while even a moderate leftwinger could undermine his pension changes.

On the other hand, 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, some analysts have suggested he may try to turn to an independent expert.

Next, he could dissolve the national assembly and call fresh legislative elections, an option he has resisted and surveys indicate could yield another split result – or potentially usher in an RN government.

His final option would be to resign, but again, he has refused to leave before the presidential election in 2027 – a vote seen as a historic crossroads for France, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.