French President Macron reinstates Lecornu as Prime Minister
Just four days after stepping down, the prime minister returns as France faces rising debt and economic strain
French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister, only four days after accepting his resignation from the same role.
Lecornu had resigned on Monday, less than a month after initially assuming office. According to a statement from the Elysee Palace on Friday, he is now tasked with forming a new government. This decision marks an unexpected development following several days of political negotiations aimed at resolving France’s ongoing parliamentary stalemate.
“I accept – out of duty – the mission entrusted to me by the President of the Republic to do everything possible to provide France with a budget by the end of the year and to address the daily life issues of our fellow citizens,” Lecornu posted on X.
“We must put an end to this political crisis that exasperates the French people and to this instability that is harmful to France’s image and its interests,” he further stated.
Lecornu, appointed just a month ago, has faced escalating pressure in recent weeks as he grappled with pushing a budget through France’s deeply divided Parliament while contending with a worsening debt crisis.
His resignation followed a backlash against his proposed lineup of ministers, which both right-wing and left-wing factions criticized for including too many familiar figures from the previous government led by former Prime Minister Francois Bayrou.
The reappointment triggered swift and strong reactions across France’s political spectrum.
Jordan Bardella, president of the right-wing National Rally (RN) party, denounced the reappointment as “a poor joke and a humiliation for the French people.”
Mathilde Panot of left-wing La France Insoumise (LFI), accused Macron of clinging to power despite significant unpopularity.
“Never before has a President desired so much to govern through disgust and anger,” Panot declared in a statement posted on X.
“Lecornu, who resigned on Monday, was reappointed by Macron on Friday. Macron lamentably postpones the inevitable: his departure,” she added, proposing to launch an impeachment effort against the president.