French President Emmanuel Macron reappointed Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister on October 10, 2025, days after Lecornu resigned, aiming to stabilize France’s government and secure parliamentary support for a 2026 budget. The decision follows Lecornu’s resignation on October 6, 2025, which deepened the country’s ongoing political crisis.
Macron, facing a fragmented parliament split into three opposing ideological blocs, hopes Lecornu, a loyalist, can navigate the deadlock to pass a budget by Monday’s deadline. Lecornu stated on X, “I accept, out of duty, the mission to provide France with a budget by year-end and address citizens’ daily concerns, ending this crisis that frustrates the French and harms France’s image.”
The reappointment has drawn criticism from political rivals, who argue Macron should call snap elections or resign to resolve the crisis, the worst in decades. Leftist leaders, excluded from a meeting Macron held with mainstream party heads, expressed frustration at his refusal to appoint a prime minister from their ranks. Socialist Party leader Olivier Faure remarked, “We’re not seeking parliament’s dissolution, but we’re not afraid of it either.”
France’s political instability, sparked by Macron’s 2024 legislative election gamble that resulted in a hung parliament, has slowed economic growth and unsettled financial markets. The central bank chief, Francois Villeroy de Galhau, estimated the uncertainty could reduce GDP by 0.2 percentage points, calling it “the number one enemy of growth.” Despite this, he noted the economy remains broadly stable.
Budget negotiations remain contentious, with France striving to reduce its deficit from a projected 5.4% of GDP in 2025 to 4.8% in 2026, still above the EU’s limit. Disagreements over budget cuts, tax hikes, and the left’s push to reverse Macron’s 2023 pension reforms or tax the wealthy have fueled tensions. Macron offered to delay raising the retirement age to 64 until 2028, but Green leader Marine Tondelier deemed the concession inadequate.
The far-right National Rally (RN) and hard-left France Unbowed (LFI) were excluded from Macron’s party leader discussions. RN leader Jordan Bardella criticized the move, stating on X, “The RN is honored not to be invited. We are not for sale to Macron’s circle.” A collapsed government could lead to snap elections, likely favoring the far right.
Macron’s previous prime minister, Francois Bayrou, was ousted over a proposed 44 billion euros in savings to lower the deficit to 4.6% of GDP. With Lecornu’s reappointment, France faces critical weeks to avoid emergency legislation for a rollover budget in 2026.
