France faces renewed political upheaval as Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu abruptly resigns after just one month in office, plunging President Macron’s government into crisis. This marks the fifth PM departure in two years, raising urgent questions about early elections and Macron’s dwindling authority.

The resignation comes amid legislative gridlock and mass protests, leaving Macron isolated as he weighs high-risk options—from appointing a technocrat to dissolving parliament. Analysts warn France may be entering its deepest constitutional crisis since the Fifth Republic’s founding.

French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu Resigns: Will Macron Call Snap Elections? Political Crisis Deepens

France Plunged Into Political Turmoil as PM Lecornu Steps Down

France faces its most severe governmental crisis in decades following the abrupt resignation of Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu after just one month in office. The defense minister-turned-PM failed to bridge the parliamentary divide between left-wing, far-right, and centrist factions, leaving President Emmanuel Macron scrambling to maintain political stability. This marks the fifth prime ministerial resignation since 2023, exposing the fragility of Macron’s centrist coalition.

The immediate trigger appears to be Lecornu’s inability to pass crucial budget reforms through the hung National Assembly, where no single bloc commands the required 289-seat majority. Sources indicate the final straw came when his proposed pension adjustment measures sparked nationwide transport strikes reminiscent of the yellow vest protests.

Hoo indeed! This resignation exposes the fundamental flaw in Macron’s governance model – you can’t run a parliamentary democracy like a startup when the board members (in this case, lawmakers) actively sabotage the CEO. The Matignon Palace might need to install a revolving door at this rate.

Macron’s Limited Options: Snap Elections vs. Cohabitation

Constitutionally, President Macron faces three uncharted paths forward:

• Dissolution Gambit: Calling early elections risks strengthening Marine Le Pen’s National Rally, currently leading in polls
• Forced Cohabitation: Appointing a PM from opposition parties (last attempted 1997-2002)
• Technocratic Solution: Installing an unelected government of experts, likely triggering protests

Historical comparisons weigh heavily – when Jacques Chirac gambled on early elections in 1997, it backfired spectacularly, handing socialists a majority that governed for five years. Macron’s team reportedly studies this precedent daily, recognizing France’s institutions weren’t designed for perpetual minority government.

While everyone focuses on the PM musical chairs, they’re missing the constitutional time bomb – Article 49.3 can’t paper over legislative inertia forever. The Fifth Republic’s machinery is grinding its gears.

Potential Snap Election Timeline

Possible Successors to Lecornu: Macron’s Shrinking Bench

The pool of viable replacements reflects Macron’s waning influence:

• Bruno Le Maire: Current finance minister, represents continuity but carries baggage
• Édouard Philippe: Former PM, increasingly independent with own ambitions
• Elisabeth Borne: Previous PM, unlikely to accept return after painful tenure

Notably absent are fresh faces from Macron’s Renaissance party, exposing its shallow talent pool after years of internal factionalism. The most intriguing possibility remains Laurent Wauquiez from the traditional right (LR), though his appointment would shatter Macron’s “neither left nor right” pretense.

Systemic Causes: Why France Can’t Keep a Prime Minister

The PM revolving door stems from three structural issues:

1. Constitutional Imbalance: 2008 reforms weakened parliament while overloading PM responsibilities
2. Direct Democracy: Frequent strikes and protests bypass legislative processes
3. Macron’s Leadership: Hyper-centralized decision-making clashes with parliamentary realities

Remarkably, France has averaged 18 months per PM since 2017 compared to 30 months under François Hollande. This instability comes at significant cost – three crucial EU reform packages remain stalled, and France risks becoming the “sick man of Europe” economically.

Hoo knew a president elected to smash the left-right divide would instead create a political ouroboros – a system consuming its own leaders every few months? The founders of the Fifth Republic must be spinning in their graves.

International Implications: EU and Ukraine Fallout

The domestic chaos carries global consequences:

• EU Leadership: France’s paralysis weakens Franco-German engine of European integration
• Ukraine Policy: Macron’s ambitious Ukraine stance may face parliamentary blockade
• NATO Commitment: Defense spending pledges could be revisited by new government

With Germany also facing political uncertainty, Brussels fears a leadership vacuum at the continent’s core just as challenges mount from Russia’s war and economic stagnation. French diplomatic clout has already diminished at recent G7 and NATO summits.

While Macron postures as Europe’s geopolitical visionary, lecturing about “strategic autonomy”, his own house burns down. An amusing spectacle if the stakes weren’t so high for European security.

Macron’s Approval Ratings