France is bracing for another political reset after President Emmanuel Macron appointed Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu as the country’s new prime minister. The 39-year-old loyalist takes over from François Bayrou, who resigned following a bruising no-confidence vote in parliament on Monday.
The collapse of Bayrou’s short tenure came after his plan to cut $51 billion in public spending to tame France’s debt crisis ran into a wall of opposition. Lawmakers across the political spectrum balked at the proposal, leaving the president’s centrist camp exposed and underscoring the fragility of governing without a firm majority in the 577-seat National Assembly.
For Macron, Lecornu’s elevation is both a gamble and a necessity. One of his closest allies, Lecornu has stood beside the president since his first campaign, carving out a reputation as a disciplined operator who can keep ministries on message. Yet he will be inheriting a government that has already gone through five prime ministers in less than two years, a churn that reflects how deeply gridlock has set into French politics.
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The new premier struck a sober tone in his first remarks, promising to defend France’s “independence and power” while working for “stability and unity.” That unity will be hard to muster. The Socialist Party has denounced his nomination as an affront to parliament’s will, warning that Macron is choosing to bypass consensus rather than seek it. “Regardless of Sébastien Lecornu’s personal qualities, his nomination is a slap in the face of parliament,” said Socialist lawmaker Philippe Brun, who has been central to budget talks.
On the far right, the reaction was more calculated. National Rally leader Jordan Bardella, widely seen as Marine Le Pen’s political heir, said his party would give Lecornu “a chance” but would not soften its red lines on immigration and national identity.
The formal handover between Bayrou and Lecornu is expected on Wednesday. France has now rotated through five prime ministers since 2023.