French President Macron appointed Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu as the new Prime Minister on Tuesday, September 9. Lecornu, coming from a conservative background, has been a loyal ally of Macron since as early as 2017 when he actively supported him.
The Élysée Palace statement announced that Macron has tasked Lecornu with engaging in dialogue with political forces in parliament to push through the 2026 budget and establish consensus on decision-making. The statement added, “Following these discussions, the new Prime Minister will propose the formation of a new government to the President of the Republic.”
This marks Macron’s fifth appointment of a Prime Minister in less than two years. Former Prime Minister François Bayrou was ousted by Parliament after just nine months due to a trust crisis triggered by his proposals for significant spending cuts to curb debt. Reuters noted that appointing Lecornu indicates Macron’s intention not to lean towards the left but to continue his agenda of supporting economic reforms beneficial to businesses, including cutting the wealth tax and raising the retirement age. This move could alienate the center-left Socialist Party and potentially require the government to rely on support from the right-wing National Rally (RN) in Parliament.
Lecornu’s primary task is to seek consensus for the 2026 budget. France’s fiscal deficit is close to twice the EU limit of 3% of GDP, and budget disputes were the key factor leading to Bayrou’s downfall. Macron’s decision to appoint a loyal ally from his own camp with a conservative background signifies his determination to uphold his economic reform legacy at all costs.
At 39 years old, Lecornu has a wealth of political experience. At 16, he campaigned for former President Nicolas Sarkozy, became mayor of a small town in Normandy at 18, served as a counselor in Sarkozy’s government at 22, setting a record as the youngest appointee. In 2017, he left Les Républicains and joined Macron’s centrist movement, leading Macron’s re-election campaign five years later. As Defense Minister in Macron’s government, he spearheaded increasing defense spending and was involved in formulating Europe’s security plan for Ukraine.
However, this appointment also comes with risks. The nationwide “Block Everything” protests are expected to erupt on Wednesday, reflecting heightened public dissatisfaction and a desire for change among voters. The Socialist Party promises to overturn some of Macron’s core policies if they regain power, while the National Rally emphasizes that they will not tolerate any tax increases for the working class.
Reuters sources revealed that Lecornu had clandestine meetings in the past with National Rally leader Marine Le Pen and the party’s chairman Jordan Bardella. National Rally members suggest that if Lecornu becomes Prime Minister, they might offer some form of tacit support.