Why France's Prime Minister Stepped Down Following Only 27 Days – & Potential Follow

France's prime minister, the country's leader, stepped down together with his government, under a month following taking office and just hours after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening the country's governmental turmoil.

This marks the latest shock development following recent incidents indicating that the nation, Europe's second-largest economy, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Let's examine recent developments, the causes and future possibilities.

What Just Happened?

Lecornu, who was appointed 27 days ago, tendered his resignation and that of his government this week, 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.

Aged 39, former defence minister, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, served as the fifth PM after Macron's second term and the third since Macron dissolved parliament and called early legislative elections that were held last summer.

He attributed the resignation to political rigidity, stating he was “ready to compromise, but every party wanted others accept their entire agenda.” It would “would require little to succeed,” however “partisan attitudes” along with “certain egos” blocked progress, according to him.

His departure spooked investors, 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 its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Underlying Causes

Origins of the turmoil stem from that 2024 snap general election, that resulted in a split assembly divided between three nearly equal factions: the left, the far right and the president's centrist coalition, with no group coming close to a clear majority.

France’s financial crisis has only added to that instability, as have presidential elections due in 2027. The president is term-limited, 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 aimed at reining in the yawning budget deficit – a challenge that ousted the previous two PMs, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.

The immediate trigger leading to his exit appears to have been response from conservative parties to the new cabinet. The party said the similar composition did not reflect the “profound break” from previous approaches that Lecornu had promised.

But announcement of the main cabinet posts on Sunday evening drew strong objections from all sides, with allies and opponents denouncing it for being too conservative or insufficiently so, and threatening to topple the new government.

The return of Bruno Le Maire, long-time finance chief, to government as defence minister particularly enraged politicians across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that his economic agenda were not up for discussion.

What Might Happen Now?

Nationalist parties of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella urged the president to dissolve parliament and call new votes, while the radical left France Unbowed has reiterated longstanding calls for Macron's resignation.

The president faces three choices, each risky and none very appealing. First, he might appoint another PM. Someone from his circle seems improbable, and a centrist left candidate would challenge his hard-won pension reform.

Alternatively, selecting a staunch conservative would anger left-wing parties. Given the pressing need to achieve a minimum of consensus for approving annual spending, some analysts have suggested he might consider an independent expert.

Second, he could dissolve the national assembly and call fresh legislative elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and surveys indicate could yield another split result – 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 – an election viewed as pivotal for France, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.