Macron names Sébastien Lecornu France’s new PM amid budget turmoil

France has a new prime minister following the ousting of François Bayrou: President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Sébastien Lecornu, 39, a close ally and former armed forces minister, to lead the government. 

Lecornu becomes the seventh prime minister under Macron and the fifth of his second term, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The move comes after Bayrou resigned following a failed vote of confidence over his proposed €44bn budget cuts, with the National Assembly voting 364-194 to remove his government. Lecornu’s immediate task is steering France through rising public debt, which currently stands at €3.3tn, or 114% of GDP.

In his first statement, Lecornu promised to build “a government with clear direction: defending our independence and strength, serving the French people, and ensuring political and institutional stability.” He faces a fractured parliament, with Macron’s minority government needing to negotiate with opposition parties to pass the national budget.

Centrist allies, including MoDem leader Marc Fesneau, welcomed Lecornu’s appointment, calling for compromise, while left-wing and far-right leaders criticised it. Jean-Luc Mélenchon of France Unbowed demanded Macron’s departure, and Marine Le Pen accused the president of relying on “his little circle of loyalists.”

Former Prime Minister Édouard Philippe praised Lecornu’s experience as defence minister and highlighted the need for dialogue with the Socialists to avoid a fresh political crisis.

Meanwhile, anti-government protests organised by the grassroots movement Bloquons Tout are planned for September 10, with 80,000 police deployed to maintain order. France’s debt situation will also face scrutiny on September 12 when Fitch Ratings reassesses the country’s credit rating, potentially affecting borrowing costs.

By Vugar Khalilov