France’s political landscape is evolving after Lecornu’s departure, with new questions arising about government stability, future policy direction, and economic prospects. Strategic insights highlight potential impacts on markets and investment opportunities.

Key points

  • Prime Minister Lecornu’s resignation amid opposition from both the left and right has ushered in a new phase of political uncertainty. President Macron faces the choice of appointing a new Prime Minister or dissolving the National Assembly to call snap elections. Either way, France will have a budget for 2026: its Constitution provides procedures to avoid a US-style shutdown.
     
  • Despite political fragility and mildly widening government bond spreads, demand for French debt remains robust. France benefits from a large, liquid bond market, a historically low average cost of debt, extended debt maturities, and a strong tax collection capacity. The European Central Bank (ECB) holds a significant share of French debt, and recent rating downgrades have had a limited impact on investor appetite, reflecting confidence in France’s financial stability.
     
  • The political uncertainty has weighed on the French equity market, particularly in domestic stocks, while the impact on European equity indices has been limited. The French market already prices in political risk and, with around 80% of its capitalisation export-oriented, it is expected to remain relatively resilient despite ongoing uncertainty. However, prolonged political instability could weigh on household confidence and domestic demand, as evidenced by rising savings rates, further impacting the most domestically oriented segments of the market.

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