By: Chioma Madonna Ndukwu
Macron Appoints Close Ally Lecornu as France’s New Prime Minister
French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday appointed Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu as the country’s new prime minister, following the resignation of François Bayrou after losing a parliamentary confidence vote.
Lecornu, 39, is one of Macron’s closest allies and will become the seventh prime minister since Macron’s first election in 2017. The official handover between Bayrou and Lecornu is scheduled for midday on Wednesday.
Bayrou, who had been in office for just nine months, stepped down earlier in the day after his austerity budget plan triggered political backlash.
The budget had proposed €44 billion ($52 billion) in cost-cutting measures, but lawmakers rejected it, with 364 deputies in the National Assembly voting no confidence in his government. Only 194 backed him.
The crisis is the latest fallout from France’s hung parliament since the 2024 legislative elections. It has left Macron under intense pressure to find political stability at home, even as he continues to play a key role in international diplomacy, particularly over the war in Ukraine.
Lecornu, who has overseen France’s defence ministry for more than three years, is considered a discreet but skilled operator.
He has strongly supported Kyiv during Russia’s invasion and is not seen as harbouring presidential ambitions—an important factor for Macron as he seeks loyalty and stability in government.
The president tasked Lecornu with immediately consulting parliamentary forces to secure an agreement on the national budget and other pressing policy decisions in the coming months.
The Élysée Palace stressed Macron’s confidence that the new premier could strike deals “while respecting the convictions of each political group.”
The appointment comes as France braces for fresh unrest. A left-wing collective, “Block Everything,” has called for nationwide protests on Wednesday, while trade unions have announced plans for a strike on September 18.
Reactions have been mixed across the political spectrum. Marine Le Pen of the far-right National Rally denounced Lecornu’s selection as “the final shot of Macronism,” while the Socialist Party accused the president of ignoring calls for broader inclusion, warning of “legitimate social anger.”
By contrast, former prime minister Édouard Philippe said Lecornu “has the qualities” needed to negotiate with other parties.
With Macron barred from running for a third term in 2027, analysts say the appointment may shape the balance of power ahead of the next presidential race, where the far right is widely expected to make significant gains.
