Why the French Prime Minister Stepped Down Following Only 27 Days – and Potential Happen Next
The French prime minister, the country's leader, stepped down along with his government, under 30 days after taking office and within moments of the new cabinet being announced, dramatically deepening France's political crisis.
It is another surprising turn following recent incidents that suggest France, the EU’s second-biggest member state, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Let's examine what just happened, the causes and future possibilities.
Recent Events
Lecornu, after less than a month in office, submitted his departure and that of his government on Monday, only half a day following the ministerial lineup reveal. This made him the briefest-serving PM in modern French history.
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 conducted months ago.
Lecornu blamed party-political intransigence, saying he had been “willing to negotiate, but every party wanted every other party to adopt its full programme.” He noted it “would require little to succeed,” however “partisan attitudes” along with “certain egos” stood in the way, he said.
The resignation spooked investors, as the CAC 40 fell 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio ranks third in the EU after Greece and Italy, nearly double the 60% permitted under EU rules – similar to its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.
Underlying Causes
The roots of the crisis stem from last year's sudden polls, that resulted in a split assembly split among three more or less equal blocs: the left, nationalist right & Macron’s own centre-right alliance, none nearing a majority.
The economic downturn has only added to that instability, along with presidential elections due in 2027. Macron cannot stand again, and with each party keen to stake out its ground before the vote, compromise in the assembly is increasingly elusive.
He encountered the tough job to approve spending cuts through the divided assembly targeting reduction of the large fiscal gap – 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 the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains to the new cabinet. The party said the largely unchanged lineup failed to represent a significant shift with past politics that Lecornu had promised.
But announcement of the main cabinet posts last Sunday 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.
Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, long-time finance chief, as defense head particularly enraged politicians across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that Macron’s pro-business economic policies was non-negotiable.
Future Scenarios
The far-right National Rally of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella urged the president to disband the assembly and call new votes, as leftist groups has reiterated longstanding calls for Macron's resignation.
Macron has three main options, all hazardous and uninviting. First, he could name a new prime minister. A figure from within his own camp now appears unlikely, while even a moderate leftwinger could undermine his pension changes.
On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would anger left-wing parties. Due to urgent requirements to secure some agreement to at least pass a budget for this year, some analysts have suggested he may try to turn to a non-party political technocrat.
Next, he may dissolve parliament and initiate new elections, an option he has resisted and surveys indicate would probably return another divided parliament – or bring nationalists to power.
His final option would be to resign, however, he has refused to leave prior to the 2027 vote – an election viewed as pivotal in French politics, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.
