French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, days after Lecornu resigned and his newly formed government collapsed just 14 hours after taking office. The move comes amid mounting political instability in France and growing pressure to deliver a national budget for 2026.
Lecornu, 39, accepted the role “out of duty” and pledged to work swiftly to provide France with a budget by year-end while addressing the daily concerns of citizens. “We must put an end to this political crisis that is exasperating the French people and end this instability that is harming France’s image and its interests,” he said.
The reappointment, unprecedented in recent French politics, highlights Macron’s reluctance to broaden his government to include other political factions despite a divided parliament. The president has 18 months remaining in his term, and the current political deadlock has complicated efforts to form a stable administration.
Within Macron’s centrist Renaissance party, Lecornu’s return is seen as a stabilizing move. MP Shannon Seban said it was crucial to maintain continuity and stability, while outgoing education minister Élisabeth Borne noted that Lecornu could build compromise in a fragmented political environment.
Opposition parties have been critical. Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, called the reappointment a “bad joke” and a “humiliation for the French people,” vowing to pursue a no-confidence vote. Left-wing parties expressed surprise, with the Socialist Party emphasizing it had made “no deal” to avoid voting against Lecornu, and Green Party leader Marine Tondelier calling the move “incredible.”
The political crisis began earlier this week when Lecornu resigned just hours after appointing his new government. He stepped down before attending his first cabinet meeting or making any policy speeches in parliament. The resignation followed fierce opposition criticism that he had refused to include other political perspectives in his administration, reflecting the divided composition of parliament.
Lecornu has held several high-profile government posts, including defence minister, where he oversaw increases in French military spending. He became the third prime minister in France in one year, following a series of political upheavals triggered by Macron’s inconclusive snap election last year. His predecessor, François Bayrou, resigned amid backlash over proposed budget cuts.
The French parliament remains split among three main blocs: the left, the far right, and the centrist majority, with no single party holding a clear majority. This division complicates the urgent task of agreeing on a budget for next year, which must be finalized in the coming weeks.
The reappointment followed a day of tense consultations at the Élysée Palace, where opposition party leaders met Macron. Several attendees reported feeling ignored, describing the discussions as “talking to a wall.” Julien Aubert, vice-president of Les Républicains, criticized the move as provocative, while Les Républicains spokesperson Vincent Jeanbrun suggested it offered a chance for stability.
Macron’s popularity has fallen sharply, reaching historic lows. Essayist Alain Minc described the president as “politically radioactive” due to recent events. Lecornu now faces the immediate task of forming a new government by the weekend to hold the first cabinet meeting on Monday and begin the parliamentary approval process for the 2026 budget.
France’s central bank governor, François Villeroy de Galhau, warned that ongoing political uncertainty could harm business confidence, consumer spending, and economic growth. “Uncertainty is the number one enemy of growth,” he said.
Under the French system, the president serves as head of state and controls foreign policy and national security, while the prime minister leads domestic affairs and manages government operations. Lecornu’s return represents Macron’s effort to restore stability and push forward urgent domestic priorities amid a challenging political landscape.
