French President Emmanuel Macron reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister on Friday, just four days after Lecornu resigned, intensifying France’s political turmoil.
The decision, announced after Macron met with mainstream party leaders, aims to stabilize a fractured government and secure a 2026 budget amid mounting economic challenges.
Lecornu, a loyal ally, faces a divided parliament and a tight Monday deadline to present the budget, with no guaranteed support for his leadership.
Lecornu’s reappointment follows a week of upheaval, with his initial 27-day tenure as prime minister collapsing after conservative leader Bruno Retailleau criticized a cabinet member.
France’s hung parliament, split among centrist, conservative, and leftist blocs, complicates government formation.
Lecornu, tasked with “carte blanche” to form a new cabinet, emphasized unity, stating on X that he accepts “out of duty” the mission to deliver a budget and address citizens’ daily concerns.
However, his leadership faces immediate resistance, with far-right leader Jordan Bardella calling it a “bad joke” and pledging a no-confidence vote.
France’s fiscal challenges loom large, with public debt at 114% of GDP and a projected 2026 budget deficit of 5.4%, far exceeding EU limits.
Lecornu stressed that “no-one will be able to shirk” restoring public finances, a task that has toppled two prior prime ministers in the past year.
Macron’s offer to delay his controversial 2023 pension reform, which raised the retirement age to 64, by one year failed to win over leftist leaders.
Green leader Marine Tondelier called the concession inadequate, while Socialists and Communists signaled reluctance to back Lecornu without firm guarantees.
With Macron’s approval rating at a record low of 14%, Lecornu’s ability to unify a polarized National Assembly and pass a budget remains uncertain, raising the specter of emergency fiscal measures or a snap election.