Macron Reappoints Lecornu as PM

President Emmanuel Macron has reinstated Sébastien Lecornu as French Prime Minister, just four days after he resigned, plunging France into a week of political upheaval.

Macron announced the decision late on Friday, following a meeting with major political parties at the Élysée Palace — notably excluding leaders of the far-right and far-left.

Lecornu’s return shocked many observers, as he declared on national television only two days earlier that he was “not chasing the job” and that his “mission is over.”

Although it remains uncertain whether he can assemble a government, Lecornu must move swiftly. He faces a Monday deadline to present next year’s budget to parliament.

According to the Élysée, the president has tasked him with forming a government, granting him “carte blanche” to act.

In a lengthy statement on X, Lecornu accepted “out of duty the mission entrusted to me by the president,” pledging to deliver a budget by year’s end and address the everyday struggles of French citizens.

The challenge before him is formidable. Deep political rifts over reducing France’s national debt and budget deficit have toppled two of the last three prime ministers within a year.

France’s public debt now stands at nearly 114% of GDP, the third highest in the eurozone, while the budget deficit is expected to reach 5.4% of GDP this year.

Lecornu insisted that “no one can avoid” the responsibility of restoring public finances. With only 18 months left in Macron’s presidency, he warned that anyone joining his cabinet must “set aside personal ambitions.”

Compounding his difficulties, Lecornu will soon face a vote of confidence in a National Assembly where Macron’s centrist alliance holds no majority. Macron’s approval rating has fallen to a record 14%, according to an Elabe poll this week.

Far-right National Rally leader Jordan Bardella, excluded from Macron’s meeting, dismissed Lecornu’s reappointment as “a bad joke,” describing the president as “isolated and out of touch.”

Bardella vowed to bring an immediate vote of no confidence against what he called a “doomed coalition born out of fear of elections.”

Lecornu, however, has already begun talks with potential partners. The centrist bloc alone cannot form a government, and divisions persist among the conservative Republicans, who have supported Macron since he lost his majority last year.

To secure support, Lecornu may need backing from the left-wing parties. In a conciliatory gesture, Macron’s team suggested delaying parts of the 2023 pension reforms, which raised the retirement age from 62 to 64 — a deeply unpopular move. But left-wing leaders remain unconvinced.

Olivier Faure of the Socialists said, “Since we’ve been given no guarantees, we will give none in return.” Fabien Roussel of the Communists argued that “a centrist prime minister cannot deliver the change the French people demand.”

Marine Tondelier, leader of the Greens, said she was “stunned” by Macron’s failure to make meaningful concessions, warning that “all of this is going to end very badly.