Macron Appoints Lecornu as France’s New Prime Minister After Bayrou’s Ouster
French President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu as the country’s new prime minister, following the collapse of François Bayrou’s government after a failed confidence vote in parliament.
The Elysee Palace confirmed the appointment on Tuesday, tasking Lecornu with leading consultations across the political spectrum before forming a new government. The move comes amid heightened political instability and ongoing budgetary tensions.
“The objective is to build the necessary agreements for the decisions of the coming months,” the presidency said in a statement.
The new prime minister’s mission, the statement added, will prioritize national unity, institutional stability, and the defense of France’s independence and power.
Macron expressed confidence that a cross-party agreement can be reached “while respecting the convictions of each.”
At just 39 years old, Lecornu becomes the youngest prime minister under Macron and the only minister to have held continuous roles in government since the president first took office in 2017.
His previous posts include:
- Secretary of State for Ecological Transition
- Minister Delegate for Local Authorities
- Minister of Overseas Territories
- Minister of the Armed Forces (since 2022)
Lecornu replaces François Bayrou, who resigned after losing a confidence vote tied to the proposed 2026 budget. Bayrou had sought parliamentary approval for a savings plan aimed at reducing public debt by nearly €44 billion ($51 billion).
The vote failed with 194 votes in favor and 364 against, while 15 deputies abstained. France’s public debt currently stands at 113% of GDP, and its budget deficit is one of the highest in the EU at 5.8%.
Disagreements over fiscal policy have become a recurring source of political turmoil. Just last year, similar tensions led to the collapse of Michel Barnier’s government when both left-wing and far-right parties united against the budget proposal.
