Macron Appoints Sébastien Lecornu Prime Minister Following Government Collapse
PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron on Tuesday named Sébastien Lecornu as the country’s new prime minister, following the ousting of his predecessor, François Bayrou, in a confidence vote on Monday. The move comes as France braces for widespread disruption Wednesday from a protest movement dubbed “Block Everything,” prompting the deployment of 80,000 police officers nationwide.
Bayrou’s government fell after legislators rejected his proposals for notable public spending cuts aimed at addressing France’s considerable debt. The vote represented a new crisis for Europe’s second-largest economy, and signaled a lack of parliamentary support for the 74-year-old centrist who Macron appointed last December.
Macron has tasked Lecornu with a unique approach to forming a new government.Rather than immediately assembling a team, Lecornu will first consult with all political parties in Parliament to seek consensus on a budget. “The prime minister’s action will be guided by the defense of our independence and our power, serving the French and the political and institutional stability for the unity of our country,” Macron stated.
Lecornu, 36, previously served as Minister of Overseas Territories from 2020 to 2022, where he addressed rioting and strikes in Guadeloupe, even offering to discuss greater autonomy for the Caribbean territory. He also led Macron’s “great debate” initiative in 2018, aimed at calming tensions during the “yellow vest” protests against social injustice.
As a key architect of France’s recent defense policy, Lecornu championed a 413 billion euro ($435 billion) defense spending package for 2024-2030 – the largest increase in French defense spending in half a century. The plan focuses on modernizing the nation’s nuclear arsenal, bolstering intelligence capabilities, and developing remote-controlled weapons systems.
benoit Tessier / AP
