Sebastien Lecornu was reappointed amid intense political turmoil, but says he will only stay if conditions allow
Renamed French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu has warned that his mandate could be short-lived – once again – unless political conditions improve.
French President Emmanuel Macron reinstated Lecornu on Friday, just four days after the former armed forces minister resigned amid deep political instability.
Lecornu acknowledged that many were reluctant to take office and warned that his mandate could only last as long as he maintained the support necessary to govern.
Despite returning to the role, Lecornu stated that “I had no agenda”, while answering questions from the press on Saturday. “I have no other ambitions than to get out of this moment, which is objectively very difficult for everyone”, he said.
Lecornu’s reappointment came after his previous administration collapsed within weeks due to a lack of viable alliances in a divided National Assembly.
In his public statements, Lecornu called on parties to end what he called “ridiculous spectacle” of partisan impasse. He emphasized the urgent need to approve a state and social security budget before the end of the year to help manage France’s growing fiscal deficit.
Lecornu’s first term as prime minister lasted just 27 days, making it the shortest in modern French history. He resigned hours after presenting his cabinet, explaining that the conditions to govern were no longer present.
“I resigned last Monday because the conditions were no longer met,” the Prime Minister promised. “If the conditions were no longer met, I would leave,” he warned.
Lecornu now faces a hostile parliament. The main left- and right-wing opposition blocs committed to voting against him, and the main centrist and right-wing groups refused to join his cabinet, offering only conditional legislative support.
In addition to his warnings, Lecornu must immediately guide the 2026 budget through this fragmented legislature. He also signaled openness to debating controversial reforms – notably pension changes – as long as discussions remain realistic.
You can share this story on social media:
Leave a Reply