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

The French PM, the country's leader, stepped down together with his government, under a month after his appointment and just moments 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, Europe's second-largest economy, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Here is a look at what just happened, why – and future possibilities.

What Just Happened?

The prime minister, after less than a month in office, submitted his departure and that of his government on Monday, barely 12 hours after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. He became the shortest-lived prime minister in modern French history.

The 39-year-old, ex-defense chief, a close ally of Emmanuel Macron, was France’s fifth prime minister after Macron's second term and third leader post-parliament dissolution and called early legislative elections conducted months ago.

He attributed the resignation to political rigidity, saying he had been “ready to compromise, yet all factions demanded others accept their entire agenda.” He noted it “would require little to succeed,” but “partisan attitudes” along with “certain egos” stood in the way, he said.

The resignation alarmed markets, 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 60% permitted under EU rules – as is its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Underlying Causes

Origins of the turmoil stem from last year's sudden polls, that resulted in a split assembly divided between three nearly equal factions: left-wing groups, nationalist right and the president's centrist coalition, with no group coming close to a clear majority.

The economic downturn has only added to that instability, along with presidential elections due in 2027. The president is term-limited, and with each party keen to stake out its ground ahead of elections, common ground in parliament has become even harder to find.

He encountered a difficult task to approve spending cuts through the divided assembly aimed at reining in the large fiscal gap – a challenge that ousted the previous two PMs, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.

The immediate trigger leading to his exit seems to be the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains regarding the ministerial team. They claimed the largely unchanged lineup failed to represent a significant shift from previous approaches he had pledged.

Revealing key ministries on Sunday evening prompted fierce criticism from across the political spectrum, as supporters and critics condemned it as either too rightwing or not rightwing enough, and threatening to topple the new government.

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 Macron’s pro-business economic policies was non-negotiable.

What Might Happen Now?

Nationalist parties of Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella urged the president to disband the assembly and call new votes, while the radical left France Unbowed renewed demands for Macron's resignation.

Macron has three main options, all hazardous and none very appealing. First, he might appoint another PM. A figure from within his own camp now appears unlikely, while even a moderate leftwinger could undermine his pension changes.

On the other hand, selecting a staunch conservative would anger left-wing parties. Given the pressing need to secure some agreement to at least pass a budget for this year, experts propose he may try to turn to an independent expert.

Next, he may dissolve parliament and call fresh legislative 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 before the presidential election in 2027 – an election viewed as pivotal in French politics, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.