The Reasons Behind the French PM Stepped Down After Only 27 Days – & Potential Follow

France's prime minister, the country's leader, stepped down along with the cabinet, less than a month following his appointment and just moments after unveiling his ministers, dramatically deepening France's political crisis.

This marks another surprising turn following recent incidents that suggest the nation, the EU’s second-biggest member state, faces growing governance challenges. Here is a look at recent developments, the causes and future possibilities.

Recent Events

Lecornu, after less than a month in office, submitted his departure and that of his government this week, only half a day following the ministerial lineup reveal. This made him the briefest-serving PM since the Fifth Republic began.

The 39-year-old, former defence minister, aligned with the president, was France’s fifth prime minister after Macron's second term and third leader since Macron dissolved parliament and called early legislative elections that were held last summer.

Lecornu blamed party-political intransigence, stating he was “willing to negotiate, but every party wanted every other party to adopt its full programme.” He noted it “not take much for it to work,” but “partisan attitudes” along with “personal ambitions” stood in the way, he said.

His departure spooked investors, as the CAC 40 fell 2% and the euro, 0.7%. The national debt 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?

The roots of the crisis lie in last year's sudden polls, which produced a hung parliament divided between three more or less equal blocs: the left, the far right & the president's centrist coalition, with no group coming close to a clear majority.

The economic downturn has only added to that instability, as have the 2027 presidential race. Macron cannot stand again, as parties position themselves before the vote, common ground in parliament has become even harder to find.

Lecornu faced the tough job to approve spending cuts through the divided assembly targeting reduction of the yawning budget deficit – a task that defeated his two immediate predecessors, who were ousted by MPs over the plan.

The final catalyst leading to his exit seems to be response from conservative parties regarding the ministerial team. They claimed the largely unchanged lineup failed to represent a significant shift with past politics that Lecornu had promised.

But announcement of the main cabinet posts last Sunday drew strong objections from across the political spectrum, with allies and opponents denouncing it as either too rightwing or not rightwing enough, and endangering its stability.

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 his economic agenda 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 the president himself to step down.

The president faces three choices, each risky and none very appealing. Initially, he could name a new prime minister. Someone from his circle seems improbable, and a centrist left candidate would challenge his hard-won pension reform.

Alternatively, selecting a staunch conservative would infuriate the left bloc. Due to urgent requirements to achieve a minimum of consensus for approving annual spending, experts propose he might consider an independent expert.

Second, he may dissolve parliament and initiate new 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 – a vote seen as a historic crossroads for France, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.