Why France's PM Stepped Down After Just 27 Days – & Potential Happen Next

France's prime minister, Sébastien Lecornu, stepped down together with his government, under 30 days following his appointment and just moments of the new cabinet being announced, dramatically deepening France's governmental turmoil.

It is the latest shock development following recent incidents indicating that France, Europe's second-largest economy, faces growing governance challenges. Let's examine what just happened, the causes and what might come next.

What Just Happened?

The prime minister, who was appointed 27 days ago, submitted his departure along with the entire cabinet on Monday, barely 12 hours after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. This made him 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 post-parliament dissolution triggering snap polls conducted months ago.

He attributed the resignation to party-political intransigence, saying he had been “ready to compromise, but every party wanted others accept their entire agenda.” It would “not take much for it to work,” but “partisan attitudes” along with “personal ambitions” stood in the way, he said.

The resignation alarmed markets, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. The national debt ratio is the EU’s third-highest behind Greece and Italy, almost twice the 60% permitted under EU rules – similar to 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 split among three more or less equal blocs: left-wing groups, the far right and Macron’s own centre-right alliance, none nearing a majority.

The economic downturn worsened the uncertainty, along with presidential elections due in 2027. Macron cannot stand again, as parties position themselves before the vote, compromise in the assembly is increasingly elusive.

He encountered a difficult task of passing an austerity budget through the divided assembly targeting reduction of the yawning budget deficit – a task that defeated the previous two PMs, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.

The immediate trigger for his resignation seems to be response from conservative parties regarding the ministerial team. The party said the largely unchanged lineup failed to represent the “profound break” from previous approaches he had pledged.

Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening drew strong objections from across the political spectrum, with allies and opponents denouncing 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, as defense head angered many lawmakers across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that his economic agenda were not up for discussion.

What Might Happen Now?

Nationalist parties led by Le Pen and Bardella urged the president to dissolve parliament 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 none very appealing. First, he could name a new prime minister. A figure from within his own camp now appears unlikely, and a centrist left candidate would challenge his hard-won pension reform.

On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would infuriate the left bloc. Due to urgent requirements to secure some agreement for approving annual spending, experts propose 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 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, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.