PARIS, FR — France’s newly reappointed Prime Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, is under intense pressure to form a coalition government and deliver an austerity budget before Monday, a formidable challenge for a leader whose previous government lasted less than a month.
President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to reappoint Lecornu, just days after his resignation and the collapse of his 27-day-old administration, has sparked outrage across the political spectrum and deepened France’s ongoing political turmoil.
A Second Chance Amid Political Chaos
Lecornu, 39, accepted his reappointment Friday night, pledging to “do [his] duty” and promising a government “not imprisoned by the parties.” Speaking at the Hôtel Matignon on Saturday, he acknowledged the frustration of a public weary of instability but vowed to restore order and deliver a 2026 draft budget that reins in France’s swelling national debt.
“I will not be a problem,” Lecornu said. “Our task is painful for everyone, but essential for France.”
The Prime Minister, a close ally of Macron and an experienced negotiator, remains little-known to most French citizens. On Saturday, he visited a police station in the southern Paris suburb of L’Haÿ-les-Roses, where he reiterated that he carried “no personal agenda” and was open to “all debates,” including the divisive issue of pension reform, a measure that has fueled fierce opposition from the left.
Resistance From All Sides
Despite his conciliatory tone, Lecornu’s new government is already on shaky ground. The far-right National Rally leader, Jordan Bardella, dismissed the reappointment as “a bad joke” and vowed to initiate a no-confidence vote at the earliest opportunity.
Meanwhile, members of the conservative Republicans (LR) party, led by outgoing Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, were urged not to participate in Lecornu’s next cabinet. The Socialist Party, which holds a critical swing position in parliament, also announced that it would oppose the government unless Lecornu agreed to suspend the controversial 2023 pension reform, which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64.
A Nation in Deadlock
France has been mired in political gridlock since Macron’s risky decision last year to call snap elections backfired, resulting in a hung parliament and unprecedented gains for the far right.
Now, the European Union is pressing Paris to curb its deficit and reduce national debt, fiscal constraints that have already toppled two of Lecornu’s predecessors. With only 70 days remaining for parliament to debate the budget before year’s end, time is running out.
Lecornu has pledged to “do everything possible” to present a revised 2026 draft budget by Monday, ensuring it can be passed before December 31. “Restoring France’s public finances is a priority for the country’s future,” he said.
Tensions at the Top
Macron, confronting the most severe domestic crisis of his presidency, has yet to address the nation since Lecornu’s first government collapsed. Behind closed doors, the president faces growing criticism, even from within his centrist ranks.
Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe, a likely contender in the 2027 presidential race, has gone so far as to suggest that Macron should resign once the budget is approved.
In response, Lecornu has cautioned that anyone joining his cabinet “must set aside presidential ambitions” until after 2027. He also indicated that his new government could include “technocrats” rather than career politicians, a move aimed at stabilizing leadership and rebuilding public trust.
A Volatile Road Ahead
For Macron and Lecornu, the stakes could not be higher. France’s financial credibility in the European Union hangs in the balance, as does the president’s legacy ahead of the next election, one that the far-right National Rally sees as its best chance yet to seize power.
With Marine Le Pen barred from running following a corruption conviction, her protégé Jordan Bardella has already positioned himself as the face of the movement’s next generation.
Whether Lecornu can navigate the political storm long enough to pass the budget, or becomes the latest casualty in Macron’s unraveling administration, may determine the course of French politics for years to come.
The Midtown Times
