Why France's Prime Minister Stepped Down After Just 27 Days – and Potential Happen Next

France's prime minister, the country's leader, stepped down along with the cabinet, under a month after his appointment and just hours of the new cabinet being announced, dramatically deepening France's governmental turmoil.

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 recent developments, the causes and what might come next.

What Just Happened?

Lecornu, who was appointed 27 days ago, submitted his departure and that of his government on Monday, only half a day following the ministerial lineup reveal. He became the briefest-serving PM in modern French history.

Aged 39, former defence minister, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, served as the fifth PM after Macron's second term and the third post-parliament dissolution and called early legislative elections conducted months ago.

He attributed the resignation to political rigidity, stating he was “ready to compromise, yet all factions demanded every other party to adopt its full programme.” He noted it “not take much for it to work,” however “ideological stubbornness” and “certain egos” stood in the way, he said.

The resignation spooked investors, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio is the EU’s third-highest after Greece and Italy, nearly double the EU's 60% limit – as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Why Did It Happen?

Origins of the turmoil lie in that 2024 snap general election, that resulted in a split assembly divided between 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.

France’s financial crisis worsened the uncertainty, as have the 2027 presidential race. Macron cannot stand again, and with each party keen to stake out its ground ahead of elections, compromise in the assembly is increasingly elusive.

Lecornu faced the tough job of passing an austerity budget through the divided assembly aimed at reining in the yawning budget deficit – a task that defeated the previous two PMs, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.

The final catalyst leading to his exit seems to be response from conservative parties to the new cabinet. They claimed the similar composition did not reflect the “profound break” from previous approaches that Lecornu had promised.

But announcement of the main cabinet posts on Sunday evening drew strong objections from across the political spectrum, as supporters and critics condemned it as either too rightwing or not rightwing enough, and endangering its stability.

The return of Bruno Le Maire, long-time finance chief, as defense head particularly enraged politicians from most parties, 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 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 could name a new prime minister. Someone from his circle seems improbable, and a centrist left candidate could undermine his pension changes.

Alternatively, selecting a staunch conservative would anger left-wing parties. Due to urgent requirements to achieve a minimum of consensus to at least pass a budget for this year, experts propose he might consider a non-party political technocrat.

Next, he could dissolve the national assembly and initiate new elections, a move he has consistently said he is reluctant to do and surveys indicate could yield another split result – or potentially usher in an RN government.

His final option is stepping down, but again, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside prior to the 2027 vote – a vote seen as a historic crossroads for France, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.