The Reasons Behind the French Prime Minister Resigned Following Just 27 Days – & What Could Happen Next

The French PM, the country's leader, stepped down together with his government, under 30 days following his appointment and just hours after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening the country's political crisis.

It is another surprising turn in a series of events indicating that France, the EU’s second-biggest member state, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Let's examine recent developments, why – and future possibilities.

Recent Events

Lecornu, after less than a month in office, submitted his departure along with the entire cabinet on Monday, only half a day after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. This made him the briefest-serving PM in modern French history.

Aged 39, former defence minister, aligned with the president, was France’s fifth prime minister after Macron's second term and third leader post-parliament dissolution triggering snap polls that were held last summer.

Lecornu blamed party-political intransigence, stating he was “willing to negotiate, but every party wanted others accept their entire agenda.” It would “not take much for it to work,” but “ideological stubbornness” along with “personal ambitions” stood in the way, he said.

The resignation alarmed markets, 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 – similar to the nearly 6% deficit forecast.

Why Did It Happen?

Origins of the turmoil stem from last year's sudden polls, which produced a hung parliament divided between three more or less equal blocs: the left, nationalist 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, as have the 2027 presidential race. The president is term-limited, as parties position themselves before the vote, common ground in parliament has become even harder to find.

He encountered a difficult task to approve spending cuts through the divided assembly aimed at reining in the yawning budget deficit – a task that defeated his two immediate predecessors, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.

The final catalyst leading to his exit seems to be the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains to the new cabinet. The party said the similar composition failed to represent a significant shift from previous approaches that Lecornu had promised.

Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening drew strong objections from all sides, as supporters and critics condemned it as either too rightwing or not rightwing enough, and endangering its stability.

Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, Macron’s economy minister for seven years, 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

Nationalist parties of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella urged the president to disband the assembly and hold fresh elections, while the radical left France Unbowed has reiterated longstanding calls for the president himself to step down.

The president faces three choices, all hazardous and none very appealing. First, he could name a new prime minister. Someone from his circle seems improbable, and a centrist left candidate could undermine his pension changes.

Alternatively, selecting a staunch conservative would anger left-wing parties. Due to urgent requirements to secure some agreement for approving annual spending, some analysts have suggested he may try to turn to a non-party political technocrat.

Next, he could dissolve the national assembly and initiate new elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and surveys indicate could yield another split result – 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 – an election viewed as pivotal in French politics, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.