France’s Macron Reappoints Lecornu As Premier Amid Political Turmoil

by Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Europe Bureau Chief

PARIS (Worthy News) – French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, just days after he quit the job as the shortest-serving premier in France’s modern history, in a move that has deepened political turmoil across the country.

Although Lecornu’s previous government lasted only 27 days, Macron is betting that the 38-year-old defense minister-turned-premier can now rally enough support in France’s fragmented parliament to pass a crucial 2026 budget, analysts said.

However, Macron, 47, risks further inflaming political tensions by naming Lecornu again.

Opposition leaders from both the right and the left insist that the only democratic way out of what many call France’s worst political crisis in decades is for Macron to dissolve parliament or resign, observers noted.

POLITICAL STORM INTENSIFIES

The decision came after days of tensions following Lecornu’s abrupt resignation earlier this week amid failed coalition talks and mounting no-confidence threats.

Macron, who had struggled to find an alternative candidate acceptable to France’s sharply divided National Assembly, reportedly reappointed Lecornu late Thursday night after a series of emergency meetings at the Élysée Palace in Paris.

Macron told close aides that “continuity and discipline” were essential to prevent a governmental paralysis that could “hurt France’s international credibility”, according to insiders familiar with the deliberations.

Lecornu, accepting the post again, said in a brief statement that he was acting “out of duty to the Republic,” pledging to prioritize stability, national defense, and the social budget.

CRITICS CALL IT A “DESPERATE MOVE”

Reaction was swift and polarized.

Radical right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen called the reappointment “a farce that proves the president has lost touch with the French people.”

Her protégé Jordan Bardella, the likely frontrunner for the next election, said Macron was “clinging to power through recycled failures.”

On the left, Mathilde Panot of La France Insoumise accused Macron of “governing through arrogance and contempt,” adding that the reappointment “insults voters who demanded political renewal.”

Socialist Party officials said Lecornu’s return showed that “the Élysée is in panic mode.”

BUSINESS LEADERS HAPPY

However, some centrists and business leaders welcomed the decision.

National Assembly President Yaël Braun-Pivet urged all parties to “act responsibly” and support the new government long enough to pass the budget, while the employers’ federation MEDEF praised Macron’s “courage to avoid chaos.”

The reappointment underscores the deep political fragmentation that has paralyzed France since Macron’s party lost its absolute majority in 2024.

Repeated efforts to form a stable coalition have failed, with left- and right-wing factions blocking each other’s initiatives while protests over the cost of living and immigration continue to grip major cities.

MOUNTING SOCIAL UNREST

Lecornu’s return also comes amid mounting social unrest, with unions threatening new nationwide strikes over fuel prices and pension reforms.

The crisis in the European Union’s second-largest economy has weakened Macron’s standing both at home and abroad, as France faces challenges ranging from sluggish growth to declining influence within the EU, commentators said

Lecornu is due to unveil a revised cabinet and policy roadmap within days and must present the 2026 budget to parliament by Monday.

If the National Assembly rejects the budget or tables another no-confidence motion, Macron could be forced to invoke emergency constitutional powers or call snap elections — a high-risk move that polls suggest would likely strengthen Le Pen’s far-right National Rally.

Political observers warn that Macron’s latest gamble could determine the survival of his presidency and the direction of France’s Fifth Republic itself.

Copyright 1999-2025 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.

More Worthy News