The Reasons Behind the French PM Stepped Down After Only 27 Days – and What Could Happen Next

The French PM, Sébastien Lecornu, stepped down along with the cabinet, under a month after taking office and within hours after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening the country's political crisis.

This marks another surprising turn following recent incidents that suggest the nation, Europe's second-largest economy, faces growing governance challenges. Let's examine recent developments, why – and future possibilities.

What Just Happened?

Lecornu, after less than a month in office, submitted his departure along with the entire cabinet on Monday, only half a day following the ministerial lineup reveal. This made him the shortest-lived prime minister since the Fifth Republic began.

Aged 39, former defence minister, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, served as the fifth PM since the president’s re-election in 2022 and the third post-parliament dissolution and called early legislative elections that were held last summer.

Lecornu blamed party-political intransigence, saying he had been “willing to negotiate, yet all factions demanded others accept their entire agenda.” It would “would require little to succeed,” however “partisan attitudes” along with “personal ambitions” blocked progress, according to him.

The resignation spooked investors, as the CAC 40 fell 2% and the euro, 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio ranks third in the EU behind Greece and Italy, nearly double the 60% permitted under EU rules – as is the nearly 6% deficit forecast.

Underlying Causes

The roots of the crisis lie in last year's sudden polls, that resulted in a hung parliament split among three more or less equal blocs: left-wing groups, nationalist right & Macron’s own centre-right alliance, with no group coming close to a clear majority.

The economic downturn worsened the uncertainty, as have presidential elections due in 2027. Macron cannot stand again, and with each party keen to stake out its ground ahead of elections, common ground in parliament has become even harder to find.

Lecornu faced the tough job to approve spending cuts through the divided assembly aimed at reining in the large fiscal gap – 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 the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains to the new cabinet. The party said the similar composition did not reflect the “profound break” with past politics that Lecornu had promised.

Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening prompted fierce criticism from across the political spectrum, as supporters and critics condemned it for being too conservative or insufficiently so, and threatening to topple the new government.

The return of Bruno Le Maire, long-time finance chief, 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 led by Le Pen and Bardella has called on Macron to dissolve parliament 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, while even a moderate leftwinger would challenge his hard-won pension reform.

Alternatively, selecting a staunch conservative would infuriate the left bloc. Due to urgent requirements to secure some agreement for approving annual spending, experts propose he may try to turn to a non-party political technocrat.

Second, he could dissolve the national assembly and initiate new elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and which polls suggest would probably return another divided parliament – or potentially usher in an RN government.

The last choice would be to resign, but again, he has refused to leave prior to the 2027 vote – a vote seen as a historic crossroads in French politics, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.