PARIS (BN24) — President Emmanuel Macron has appointed his close ally Sébastien Lecornu as the new French prime minister, stepping in just 24 hours after a vote of no confidence removed François Bayrou from the helm of the government. At 39, Lecornu was among the leading contenders for the position and brings with him three years of experience as France’s armed forces minister, where he played a key role in shaping the country’s response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The Élysée Palace announced that Lecornu’s immediate priority will be to engage with political parties to secure approval for France’s upcoming budget, a task that promises to be challenging amid the nation’s fractured political landscape. Bayrou’s resignation earlier on the same day cleared the path for Lecornu to become the fifth prime minister of Macron’s second presidential term.
Lecornu inherits a difficult political and economic environment. His predecessor’s proposed budget included €44 billion in cuts, aimed at tackling France’s escalating public debt, which reached €3.3 trillion this year — equivalent to 114% of the country’s GDP. Bayrou’s decision to seek a vote of confidence on these austerity measures ultimately backfired, as the National Assembly voted 364 to 194 to oust his government.
The appointment of Lecornu has met immediate resistance across the political spectrum. Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the radical left party France Unbowed, dismissed the move as a sign that Macron’s administration remains unchanged and called for the president’s departure. On the far right, Marine Le Pen criticized the decision as a last desperate act of “Macronism” clinging to power.
Conversely, some centrists have expressed cautious optimism. Édouard Philippe, former prime minister and leader of the Horizons party, praised Lecornu’s experience and debate skills, highlighting the difficult negotiations ahead. Marc Fesneau of the MoDem party, aligned with Bayrou, urged all political forces to seek compromise for the country’s stability and economic recovery.
Amid this political uncertainty, France is bracing for the reassessment of its credit rating by Fitch on Friday, with potential repercussions for its borrowing costs. Meanwhile, large-scale protests organized by the grassroots movement Bloquons Tout (“Let’s Block Everything”) are planned for Wednesday, prompting authorities to prepare a deployment of 80,000 police officers to maintain order.
As Lecornu steps into his new role, the challenges of governing without a parliamentary majority, managing economic austerity, and navigating deep political divides will test both his leadership and Macron’s broader political strategy.
