Macron reappoints Lecornu as prime minister

French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, days after Lecornu resigned and his short‑lived government collapsed. Lecornu accepted the role “out of duty” and is charged with urgently delivering a 2026 budget to parliament amid a deepening political crisis that leaves France with a fractured legislature and no clear majority.

The president convened mainstream party leaders before the announcement in a bid to shore up backing, but opposition figures responded with anger and skepticism. Left leaders signalled they would not automatically cooperate, with some refusing to rule out supporting a no‑confidence motion; the far‑right National Rally called the reappointment a “humiliation for the French people” and pledged to challenge Lecornu as soon as possible. Centrist MPs defending the decision framed it as necessary to restore stability and keep the country functioning.

Lecornu, 39, who has served as defence minister and is viewed as a loyalist to Macron, must now form a new cabinet quickly and secure parliamentary support for the budget deadline. His prior government collapsed after just 14 hours amid criticism that it failed to broaden representation to reflect Parliament’s three‑way split among left, centre and far right — the outcome of last year’s inconclusive legislative elections.

The instability has already dented economic confidence, stalled growth prospects and raised concerns about France’s fiscal credibility; authorities warn that prolonged uncertainty could risk a credit‑rating downgrade. Political maneuvering is intensifying as parties position ahead of the 2027 presidential race, and observers say another government collapse would make snap elections more likely — a scenario that analysts believe could most benefit the far right.

Macron’s approval ratings have plunged amid the turmoil, and voices across the spectrum warned that the reappointment risks further polarising politics. Lecornu faces the immediate practical task of assembling a cabinet that can command parliamentary support, hold a first cabinet meeting and begin negotiations on budget cuts and policy measures to address economic pressures. The episode underscores the fragility of France’s current political balance and the challenge of governing without a stable parliamentary majority.