Why the French Prime Minister Resigned After Only 27 Days – & Potential Follow
The French prime minister, the country's leader, stepped down along with his government, less than 30 days after his appointment and just hours after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening the country's governmental turmoil.
It is the latest shock development following recent incidents that suggest France, the EU’s second-biggest member state, faces growing governance challenges. Let's examine recent developments, the causes and what might come next.
Recent Events
The prime minister, after less than a month in office, submitted his departure along with the entire cabinet this week, only half a day following the ministerial lineup reveal. He became the briefest-serving PM in modern French history.
Aged 39, former defence minister, aligned with the president, was France’s fifth prime minister 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 political rigidity, stating he was “ready to compromise, but every party wanted every other party to adopt its full programme.” It would “would require little to succeed,” however “ideological stubbornness” and “personal ambitions” stood in the way, he said.
The resignation spooked investors, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. The national debt ratio ranks third in the EU after Greece and Italy, almost twice the EU's 60% limit – similar to the nearly 6% deficit forecast.
Underlying Causes
Origins of the turmoil stem from that 2024 snap general election, which produced a hung parliament split among three nearly equal factions: left-wing groups, the far right and the president's centrist coalition, with no group coming close to a clear majority.
France’s financial crisis worsened the uncertainty, as have the 2027 presidential race. The president is term-limited, as parties position themselves before the vote, compromise in the assembly has become even harder to find.
Lecornu faced a difficult task of passing an austerity budget through the divided assembly targeting reduction of the yawning budget deficit – a challenge that ousted his two immediate predecessors, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.
The final catalyst 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 the “profound break” with past politics he had pledged.
Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening prompted fierce criticism 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, long-time finance chief, as defense head angered many lawmakers across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that Macron’s pro-business economic policies were not up for discussion.
Future Scenarios
Nationalist parties led by Le Pen and Bardella has called on Macron to dissolve parliament and hold fresh elections, as leftist groups renewed demands for Macron's resignation.
Macron has three main options, each risky and uninviting. First, he might appoint another PM. Someone from his circle seems improbable, and a centrist left candidate could undermine his pension changes.
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, some analysts have suggested he may try to turn to a non-party political technocrat.
Second, he could dissolve the national assembly and call fresh legislative elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and surveys indicate could yield another split result – or bring nationalists to power.
The last choice is stepping down, but again, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside before the presidential election in 2027 – an election viewed as pivotal for France, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.
