Why the French PM Stepped Down After Only 27 Days – & What Could Happen Next

France's prime minister, the country's leader, has resigned along with the cabinet, less than 30 days following his appointment and within moments of the new cabinet being announced, dramatically deepening France's governmental turmoil.

It is the latest shock development following recent incidents indicating that France, the EU’s second-biggest member state, is becoming increasingly ungovernable. Here is a look at recent developments, why – and future possibilities.

Recent Events

The prime minister, who was appointed 27 days ago, tendered his resignation along with the entire cabinet on Monday, barely 12 hours after the key members of his cabinet had been announced. This made him the shortest-lived prime minister since the Fifth Republic began.

Aged 39, former defence minister, aligned with the president, was France’s fifth prime minister since the president’s re-election in 2022 and third leader since Macron dissolved parliament triggering snap polls conducted months ago.

He attributed the resignation to political rigidity, saying he had been “willing to negotiate, but every party wanted every other party to adopt its full programme.” It would “would require little to succeed,” however “ideological stubbornness” along with “certain egos” stood in the way, he said.

His departure alarmed markets, with the CAC 40 stock index dropping 2% and the euro declined 0.7%. The national debt ratio is the EU’s third-highest after Greece and Italy, almost twice the 60% permitted under EU rules – similar to its projected budget deficit of nearly 6%.

Underlying Causes

Origins of the turmoil lie in last year's sudden polls, that resulted in a split assembly split among three nearly equal factions: the left, the far 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 before the vote, compromise in the assembly has become even harder to find.

He encountered the tough job to approve spending cuts in a fractured parliament aimed at reining in the yawning budget deficit – a task that defeated his two immediate predecessors, removed by lawmakers for similar efforts.

The final catalyst leading to his exit seems to be the reaction of the centre-right Les Républicains regarding the ministerial team. The party said the largely unchanged lineup did not reflect a significant shift from previous approaches he had pledged.

But announcement of the main cabinet posts on Sunday evening drew strong objections from across the political spectrum, with allies and opponents denouncing it for being too conservative or insufficiently so, and endangering its stability.

Reappointing Bruno Le Maire, Macron’s economy minister for seven years, to government as defence minister angered many lawmakers across factions, who saw it as a confirmation that Macron’s pro-business economic policies were not up for discussion.

What Might Happen Now?

Nationalist parties led by Le Pen and Bardella urged the president to dissolve parliament and call new votes, as leftist groups renewed demands for Macron's resignation.

Macron has three main options, all hazardous and uninviting. First, he could name a new prime minister. A figure from within his own camp seems improbable, and a centrist left candidate could undermine his pension changes.

On the other hand, appointing a confirmed rightwinger would infuriate the left bloc. Given the pressing need to secure some agreement to at least pass a budget for this year, some analysts have suggested he may try to turn to 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 which polls suggest could yield another split result – or potentially usher in an RN government.

His final option is stepping down, but again, he has refused to leave prior to the 2027 vote – a vote seen as a historic crossroads in French politics, as Le Pen eyes a potential victory.