Why France's PM Stepped Down Following Only 27 Days – and Potential Follow
The French PM, the country's leader, has resigned along with the cabinet, less than 30 days after taking office and just moments after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening France's political crisis.
This marks another surprising turn in a series of events indicating that France, the EU’s second-biggest member state, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Let's examine what just happened, the causes and what might come next.
Recent Events
The prime minister, 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 since the Fifth Republic began.
The 39-year-old, former defence minister, aligned with the president, served as the fifth PM after Macron's second term and third leader since Macron dissolved parliament triggering snap polls conducted months ago.
He attributed the resignation to 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 “personal ambitions” blocked progress, he said.
The resignation spooked investors, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro, 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP 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.
Underlying Causes
The roots of the crisis lie in that 2024 snap general election, 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.
France’s financial crisis worsened the uncertainty, along with presidential elections due in 2027. The president is term-limited, as parties position themselves before the vote, common ground in parliament has become even harder to find.
Lecornu faced a difficult task to approve spending cuts in a fractured parliament aimed at reining in the large fiscal gap – a task that defeated the previous two PMs, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.
The immediate trigger 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 a significant shift from previous approaches he had pledged.
Revealing key ministries last Sunday drew strong objections from all sides, with allies and opponents denouncing it for being too conservative or insufficiently so, and endangering its stability.
The return of Bruno Le Maire, long-time finance chief, as defense head angered many lawmakers across factions, viewing it as proof that Macron’s pro-business economic policies was non-negotiable.
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 has reiterated longstanding calls for the president himself to step down.
The president faces three choices, each risky and uninviting. First, he might appoint another PM. Someone from his circle seems improbable, and a centrist left candidate would challenge his hard-won pension reform.
On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would anger left-wing parties. Given the pressing need to achieve a minimum of consensus to at least pass a budget for this year, some analysts have suggested 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 could yield another split result – or potentially usher in an RN government.
The last choice would be to resign, however, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside before the presidential election in 2027 – an election viewed as pivotal in French politics, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.
