Why France's PM Resigned After Just 27 Days – and Potential Happen Next

The French PM, the country's leader, stepped down along with the cabinet, less than a month after taking office and just hours of the new cabinet being announced, significantly worsening France's political crisis.

This marks another surprising turn in a series of events indicating that France, the EU’s second-biggest member state, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Here is a look at what just happened, the causes and future possibilities.

Recent Events

The prime minister, who was appointed 27 days ago, submitted his departure along with the entire cabinet on Monday, only half a day after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. He became 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 third leader since Macron dissolved parliament and called early legislative elections that were held last summer.

He attributed the resignation to political rigidity, saying he had been “ready to compromise, yet all factions demanded others accept their entire agenda.” He noted it “not take much for it to work,” however “ideological stubbornness” and “certain egos” stood in the way, he said.

His departure alarmed markets, 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 – as is the nearly 6% deficit forecast.

Why Did It Happen?

The roots of the crisis lie in last year's sudden polls, that resulted in a hung parliament divided between 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.

The economic downturn has only added to that instability, along with the 2027 presidential race. Macron cannot stand again, and with each party keen to stake out its ground before the vote, compromise in the assembly has become even harder to find.

Lecornu faced a difficult task of passing an austerity budget in a fractured parliament targeting reduction of the yawning budget deficit – a challenge that ousted his two immediate predecessors, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.

The final catalyst for his resignation appears to have been response from conservative parties to the new cabinet. The party said the similar composition failed to represent a significant shift with past politics he had pledged.

But announcement of the main cabinet posts last Sunday drew strong objections from across the political spectrum, as supporters and critics condemned it for being too conservative or insufficiently so, and endangering its stability.

Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, Macron’s economy minister for seven years, to government as defence minister angered many lawmakers from most parties, viewing it as proof 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 disband the assembly and call new votes, while the radical left France Unbowed renewed demands for Macron's resignation.

The president faces three choices, each risky and none very appealing. Initially, he could name a new prime minister. Someone from his circle now appears unlikely, and a centrist left candidate could undermine his pension changes.

On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would infuriate the left bloc. Due to urgent requirements to secure some agreement to at least pass a budget for this year, some analysts have suggested he might consider an independent expert.

Second, he could dissolve the national assembly and call fresh legislative elections, an option he has resisted and surveys indicate would probably return another divided parliament – or bring nationalists to power.

His final option is stepping down, but again, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside prior to the 2027 vote – a vote seen as a historic crossroads for France, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.