- Lecornu does not wish to be reappointed regardless of the outcome

- All eyes now on Macron, who faces 3 main options: cohabitation, dissolving parliament or resignation

ISTANBUL

France is once again plunged into political turbulence. Barely a month after his appointment, Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has resigned, sending shockwaves through Paris and deepening questions over the future of the country’s political landscape.

Lecornu, appointed after Francois Bayrou lost a confidence vote in the National Assembly on Sept. 8, had been tasked with restoring stability and steering France’s debt-laden economy.

Bayrou was seeking support for a plan to save nearly €44 billion ($51 billion) as part of efforts to reduce France’s soaring public debt, now at 115% of its GDP.

Lecornu’s appointment was seen as an opportunity for a Cabinet that would mark a departure from President Emmanuel Macron’s previous governments and policies. Yet hopes for a fresh start faded fast.

A day after unveiling his new Cabinet packed with familiar faces from previous governments, Lecornu resigned amid erupting criticism.

With Macron’s swift approval, he became the shortest-serving prime minister of the Fifth Republic with just 27 days in office.

Having lost his fifth prime minister in less than two years, Macron -- seen by many as trying to buy time -- tasked his outgoing premier with leading “final negotiations” to build “a platform for action and stability for the country.”

But the clock is ticking. Macron has promised to “take responsibility” if talks collapse by Wednesday evening.

Now, France holds its breath:

Will Macron appoint yet another premier?

Will he dissolve the parliament?

Or will he face the unthinkable: his own resignation?

Why did Lecornu resign?

Lecornu faced widespread criticism over a Cabinet that remained largely unchanged and dominated by Macron’s allies. Even reappointed Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau expressed disapproval and reportedly threatened to resign.

“The composition of the Government does not reflect the promised break," Retailleau wrote on the US social media company X’s platform Sunday, shortly after the Cabinet lineup was announced.

Explaining his decision to step down at the Hotel de Matignon on Monday, Lecornu said he could not remain prime minister when the “conditions have not been met for three weeks.”

One of the reasons he mentioned was that the political parties ignored the “profound rupture” in his decision not to use Article 49.3 of the Constitution, a controversial provision that allows the government to pass bills without a parliamentary vote, which Lecornu announced he would renounce.

"Political parties continue to adopt a posture as if they all had an absolute majority in the National Assembly. And in the end, I found myself in a situation where I was close to compromises," Lecornu noted.

He also stressed that the composition of the government “was not fluid” and denounced the “partisan” ambitions of certain political parties linked to the presidential election in 2027.

With one last task, can Lecornu be reappointed?

After being asked to lead final negotiations, questions quickly arose over whether Lecornu could be reappointed if the talks proved successful.

While the possibility cannot be entirely ruled out, few believe he can achieve in 48 hours what he failed to accomplish in 27 days.

Moreover, Lecornu has reportedly told Macron he does not wish to be reappointed, regardless of the outcome, according to information obtained by Le Figaro.

What will Macron do?

All eyes are now on Emmanuel Macron, who faces three main options: cohabitation, dissolving the parliament, or resignation.

Set to appoint his sixth prime minister, Macron appears to be running out of options amid growing pressure for someone outside his camp to take over the government -- a phenomenon known in France as “cohabitation.”

Speaking on Europe 1 as leader of the right-wing Republicans, Retailleau reaffirmed that his party could return to government if it involves cohabitation with Macron’s Renaissance party.

Meanwhile, Socialist leader Olivier Faure also advocated for a left-wing government, favoring cohabitation over parliamentary dissolution.

Marine Tondelier, national secretary of the Ecologists, told BFMTV: “I have the impression that we have never been so close to being appointed to Matignon.”

While debates continue over who should lead the government, a second option is emerging: the dissolution of the parliament.

Since Lecornu’s resignation, far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen has been calling on Macron to choose between resignation and dissolution.

The National Rally party has been firmly in favor of dissolution, convinced that a new parliamentary election would give them a majority.

However, citing the latest projections, French regional daily Ouest-France warned that Le Pen’s party might not secure the absolute majority of seats it seeks, risking a “dissolution for nothing.”

Macron’s next moves remain closely watched. After pledging to take responsibility if Lecornu fails to conclude negotiations by the evening, he sparked further speculation by meeting National Assembly President Yael Braun-Pivet and Senate President Gerard Larcher on Thursday afternoon.

Under Article 12 of the Constitution, the president must consult both chamber leaders before dissolving the National Assembly, BFMTV reported.

The final, though most unthinkable, option is Macron’s resignation -- a call increasingly supported across the political spectrum.

Former French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe said Tuesday that he favors an early presidential election once France has adopted a budget.

"France’s interest requires that Emmanuel Macron schedule his resignation, in order to preserve the institutions and resolve a situation that has been unavoidable since the absurd dissolution. He is the primary person responsible for this situation," David Lisnard, vice-president of the right-wing Republicans, also wrote on X.

The French Unbowed (LFI) party also backs Macron’s resignation, with LFI parliamentary leader Mathilde Panot sharing a petition calling for his impeachment.

While losing support even within his own camp, Macron’s resignation is also favored by 70% of French citizens, according to a Le Figaro poll.

For now, however, this option remains ruled out by the head of state, who continues to insist on completing his mandate through 2027 even as the political ground beneath him grows increasingly fragile.