Why France's Prime Minister Stepped Down After Just 27 Days – & Potential Happen Next
The French PM, the country's leader, has resigned together with the cabinet, under 30 days following taking office and just moments after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening France's governmental turmoil.
It is another surprising turn 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, the causes and what might come next.
What Just Happened?
The prime minister, who was appointed 27 days ago, tendered his resignation along with the entire cabinet on Monday, only half a day following the ministerial lineup reveal. He became the shortest-lived prime minister since the Fifth Republic began.
Aged 39, former defence minister, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, was France’s fifth prime minister after Macron's second term and the third post-parliament dissolution triggering snap polls that were held last summer.
Lecornu blamed political rigidity, stating he was “ready to compromise, yet all factions demanded others accept their entire agenda.” He noted it “would require little to succeed,” however “ideological stubbornness” along with “certain egos” stood in the way, according to him.
His departure alarmed markets, 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 after Greece and Italy, nearly double the 60% permitted under EU rules – as is the nearly 6% deficit forecast.
Why Did It Happen?
Origins of the turmoil lie in last year's sudden polls, which produced a split assembly split among three nearly equal factions: the left, 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. The president is term-limited, and with each party keen to stake out its ground ahead of elections, common ground in parliament is increasingly elusive.
Lecornu faced a difficult task of passing an austerity budget in a fractured parliament aimed at reining in the yawning budget deficit – a challenge that ousted the previous two PMs, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.
The immediate trigger leading to his exit appears to have been response from conservative parties regarding the ministerial team. The party said the similar composition did not reflect a significant shift from previous approaches he had pledged.
Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening 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.
The return of Bruno Le Maire, Macron’s economy minister for seven years, to government as defence minister particularly enraged politicians across factions, viewing it as proof that Macron’s pro-business economic policies 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 Macron's resignation.
The president faces three choices, each risky and none very appealing. First, he could name a new prime minister. Someone from his circle seems improbable, while even a moderate leftwinger would challenge his hard-won pension reform.
Alternatively, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would anger left-wing parties. Given the pressing need to secure some agreement for approving annual spending, experts propose he may try to turn to a non-party political technocrat.
Second, he may dissolve parliament and call fresh legislative elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and which polls suggest could yield another split result – or bring nationalists to power.
The last choice is stepping down, however, he has refused to leave prior to the 2027 vote – a vote seen as a historic crossroads in French politics, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.
