The Reasons Behind France's Prime Minister Resigned After Only 27 Days – and What Could Happen Next

France's PM, Sébastien Lecornu, stepped down along with his government, under a month following his appointment and just moments after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening France's political crisis.

This marks the latest shock development in a series of events indicating that the nation, the EU’s second-biggest member state, faces growing governance challenges. Here is a look at recent developments, why – and future possibilities.

Recent Events

The prime minister, after less than a month in office, tendered his resignation and that of his government on Monday, only half a day following the ministerial lineup reveal. He became the briefest-serving PM since the Fifth Republic began.

The 39-year-old, ex-defense chief, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, 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, saying he had been “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 “partisan attitudes” along with “certain egos” blocked progress, according to him.

The resignation spooked investors, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio ranks third in the EU behind Greece and Italy, nearly double the EU's 60% limit – as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Why Did It Happen?

The roots of the crisis stem from that 2024 snap general election, which produced a hung parliament divided between three more or less equal blocs: the left, the far right & Macron’s own centre-right alliance, with no group coming close to a clear majority.

France’s financial crisis worsened the uncertainty, 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 large fiscal gap – a task that defeated his two immediate predecessors, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.

The final catalyst 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 failed to represent the “profound break” with past politics he had pledged.

But announcement of the main cabinet posts last Sunday prompted fierce criticism from all sides, 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, as defense head angered many lawmakers from most parties, viewing it as proof that his economic agenda were not up for discussion.

What Might Happen Now?

Nationalist parties of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella has called on Macron to disband the assembly and call new votes, while the radical left France Unbowed renewed demands for the president himself to step down.

The president faces three choices, each risky and uninviting. First, he might appoint another PM. A figure from within his own camp seems improbable, while even a moderate leftwinger would challenge his hard-won pension reform.

On the other hand, selecting a staunch conservative would anger left-wing parties. Due to urgent requirements to achieve a minimum of consensus to at least pass a budget for this year, experts propose he may try to turn to a non-party political technocrat.

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

The last choice is stepping down, however, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside prior to the 2027 vote – a vote seen as a historic crossroads in French politics, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.