Why the French Prime Minister Resigned Following Only 27 Days – & Potential Happen Next
The French prime minister, the country's leader, has resigned together with his government, under a month after taking office and just hours of the new cabinet being announced, dramatically deepening France's political crisis.
This marks the latest shock development in a series of events that suggest France, Europe's second-largest economy, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. 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 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, aligned with the president, was France’s fifth prime minister after Macron's second term and third leader since Macron dissolved parliament triggering snap polls that were held last summer.
He attributed the resignation to party-political intransigence, stating he was “willing to negotiate, yet all factions demanded others accept their entire agenda.” It would “would require little to succeed,” however “partisan attitudes” along with “certain egos” blocked progress, according to him.
The resignation spooked investors, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro, 0.7%. France’s debt-to-GDP ratio ranks third in the EU after Greece and Italy, almost twice the EU's 60% limit – as is the nearly 6% deficit forecast.
Why Did It Happen?
Origins of the turmoil stem from last year's sudden polls, that resulted in a hung parliament divided between three more or less equal blocs: the left, the far right and Macron’s own centre-right alliance, none nearing a majority.
France’s financial crisis has only added to that instability, as have presidential elections due in 2027. Macron cannot stand again, and with each party keen to stake out its ground before the vote, common ground in parliament has become even harder to find.
Lecornu faced the tough job of passing an austerity budget through the divided assembly targeting reduction of the yawning budget deficit – a task that defeated his two immediate predecessors, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.
The immediate trigger leading to his exit appears to have been response from conservative parties to the new cabinet. The party said the largely unchanged lineup failed to represent a significant shift with past politics he had pledged.
But announcement of the main cabinet posts last Sunday prompted fierce criticism from all sides, 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 particularly enraged politicians from most parties, who saw it as a confirmation 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 call new votes, as leftist groups renewed demands for Macron's resignation.
The president faces three choices, each risky and uninviting. Initially, he could name a new prime minister. Someone from his circle now appears unlikely, while even a moderate leftwinger would challenge his hard-won pension reform.
On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would anger left-wing parties. Given the pressing need to achieve a minimum of consensus for approving annual spending, experts propose he may try to turn to an independent expert.
Next, he could dissolve the national assembly and initiate new elections, an option he has resisted and surveys indicate would probably return another divided parliament – or bring nationalists to power.
The last choice would be to resign, but again, he has repeatedly ruled out standing aside before the presidential election in 2027 – a vote seen as a historic crossroads for France, with Le Pen sensing her best ever chance of taking power.
