The Reasons Behind France's PM Stepped Down After Only 27 Days – and What Could Happen Next
France's PM, Sébastien Lecornu, stepped down along with his government, under 30 days following taking office and just moments after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening France's political crisis.
It is the latest shock development in a series of events that suggest 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
Lecornu, after less than a month in office, tendered his resignation and that of his government this week, only half a day following the ministerial lineup reveal. He became the briefest-serving PM 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 the third since Macron dissolved parliament and called early legislative elections 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 “ideological stubbornness” and “personal ambitions” stood in the way, he said.
The resignation spooked investors, as the CAC 40 fell 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. The national debt ratio ranks third in the EU behind Greece and Italy, almost twice the 60% permitted under EU rules – as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.
Why Did It Happen?
Origins of the turmoil lie in last year's sudden polls, that resulted in a split assembly divided between three more or less equal blocs: left-wing groups, the far right & Macron’s own centre-right alliance, none nearing a majority.
The economic downturn has only added to that instability, as have the 2027 presidential race. Macron cannot stand again, as parties position themselves ahead of elections, 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 for his resignation appears to have been response from conservative parties regarding the ministerial team. The party said the largely unchanged lineup failed to represent the “profound break” with past politics 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 threatening to topple the new government.
Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, Macron’s economy minister for seven years, to government as defence minister angered many lawmakers from most parties, who saw it as a confirmation that Macron’s pro-business economic policies were not up for discussion.
Future Scenarios
The far-right National Rally led by Le Pen and Bardella has called on Macron to dissolve parliament and call new votes, as leftist groups has reiterated longstanding calls for Macron's resignation.
Macron has three main options, each risky and uninviting. First, he might appoint another PM. A figure from within his own camp seems improbable, and a centrist left candidate could undermine his pension changes.
Alternatively, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would anger left-wing parties. Due to urgent requirements to achieve a minimum of consensus for approving annual spending, some analysts have suggested he may try to turn to an independent expert.
Second, he may dissolve parliament and initiate new elections, an option he has resisted and which polls suggest could yield another split result – or bring nationalists to power.
His final option is stepping down, however, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside before the presidential election in 2027 – an election viewed as pivotal for France, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.
