Emmanuel Macron has reappointed his centrist ally Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, just days after Lecornu resigned and his government collapsed after only 14 hours. Lecornu said he accepted the role “out of duty” and would work to deliver a budget by the end of the year, calling for an end to the political crisis that is “exasperating the French people”.
The unprecedented move comes as Macron faces the worst domestic crisis since his 2017 election. Lecornu had resigned on Monday after fierce criticism that he refused to broaden the government to reflect France’s divided parliament. He quit before his first cabinet meeting or policy speech.
Opposition parties reacted with anger. Jordan Bardella of the far-right National Rally called the reappointment a “bad joke” and a “humiliation”, vowing to back a no-confidence vote. The Socialist party said it had made “no deal” to abstain, while the Green leader Marine Tondelier described it as “incredible”.
Macron’s centrist Renaissance party defended the move. MP Shannon Seban said it was crucial for “stability”, and outgoing education minister Élisabeth Borne said Lecornu could “build compromise”. However, critics like Julien Aubert of Les Républicains called it a “provocation” after “such a circus”.
France’s parliament remains split among three blocs – left, far right, and centre – with no clear majority. A 2026 budget must be agreed within weeks. Lecornu aims to appoint a government by the weekend for a Monday cabinet meeting. The central bank chief warned that political uncertainty is “the number one enemy of growth”.
