French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, entrusting the outgoing defense minister with the challenge of navigating a fractured parliament and passing the 2026 budget.
The move came after François Bayrou resigned on Monday, ending his nine-month tenure as premier. Bayrou, unable to deliver on his promise to curb France’s rising deficit, told lawmakers before the confidence vote: “You have the power to bring down the government, but you do not have the power to erase reality. Reality will remain relentless: expenses will continue to rise, and the burden of debt, already unbearable, will grow heavier and more costly.”
Lecornu, 39, has been a fixture in Macron’s cabinets since 2017, making him one of the administration’s most enduring figures. The presidency said he has been tasked “with consulting the political forces represented in Parliament with a view to adopting a budget for the nation and building the agreements essential to the decisions that will be taken in the coming months.”
The new premier inherits a volatile political climate marked by protests and economic pressure. Nationwide demonstrations and highway blockades are scheduled for Wednesday, with a broader union-led strike planned for September 18. Opposition groups, already angered by austerity measures, have vowed to paralyze the country.
Macron’s difficulties stem from his decision to call a snap parliamentary election in 2024 after the far-right National Rally surged in European polls. The gamble backfired, leaving the National Assembly divided among the far right, far left, and weakened centrists. France, once known for stable presidential rule under the Fifth Republic, has struggled with gridlock ever since.
Analysts say Lecornu could attempt to broker deals with the Socialists, who helped Bayrou pass this year’s budget. But their demands, such as raising taxes on the wealthy and reversing corporate tax cuts, remain unacceptable to the right. As a figure positioned further right than Bayrou, Lecornu may struggle to secure the same compromises.
Still, neither the left nor the conservatives are eager to trigger another snap election, which could strengthen Marine Le Pen’s far-right bloc. That reluctance may give Lecornu some room to maneuver.
Meanwhile, France’s economic outlook has darkened. Investors have pushed bond yields above those of Spain, Portugal, and Greece, raising fears of a potential credit downgrade. Markets are bracing for a sovereign debt review later this week that could damage France’s standing within the eurozone.
Public frustration has also deepened. A recent Elabe poll indicated that in the event of another election, the far right would finish first, followed by the left, with Macron’s centrists trailing in third.
“France is frustrated, furious, full of hatred towards the elite,” said Dominique Moïsi, senior analyst at the Institut Montaigne think tank. “It sounds as if a regime change is inevitable, yet I can’t see how it will come about and who would do the job.”
As Lecornu takes office, his ability to forge consensus may determine whether Macron’s government can survive or whether political instability will once again paralyze France.
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