Paris, Oct 10 (EFE). – French President Emmanuel Macron reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister on Friday, after a day of negotiations to get the country out of the political deadlock.
Lecornu, 39, presented his resignation as Prime Minister on Monday, after less than a month in office, following criticism over his cabinet appointment and the threat of a no-confidence vote in parliament.
“I accept—out of duty—the mission entrusted to me by the President of the Republic to do everything possible to provide France with a budget by the end of the year and to respond to the everyday problems faced by our fellow citizens,” the PM wrote on X.
“We must put an end to this political crisis, which is exasperating the French people, and to this instability, which is damaging to France’s image and interests,” he added.
The second opportunity for Lecornu ends a hectic week, which began Sunday, when the Prime Minister named a cabinet that sparked internal quarrels and criticism from the left and the far-right parties.
On Monday morning, he tendered his resignation, but Macron charged him with sounding out the options for generating a majority that would avoid an early election.
On Wednesday, Lecornu assured Macron that this option had the support of the majority and recommended that he appoint a new prime minister, noting that his mission was “finished.”
Two days later, before presenting the 2026 budget to the Council of Ministers, the president found no better option.
On Friday, Macron gathered the moderate groups at the Élysée Palace, excluding Marine Le Pen’s far-right group and the leftist France Unbowed of Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
At the end of the meeting, he confirmed that there were possibilities for consensus and decided to retain Lecornu as Prime Minister.
Lecornu pledged to form a government that “embodies renewal and diversity of competencies,” comprising figures with no personal ambitions for the 2027 presidential elections.
His first task will be to hold the Macronist alliance together, as it is becoming increasingly critical of the president, with some members opposing the annulment of the pension reform demanded by the left.
He will also have to convince the moderate right, whose votes are crucial for securing a majority, despite their president, Bruno Retailleau, the current acting Minister of the Interior, distancing himself from Macron.
Thirdly, he must seek support from the left, particularly the Socialists, whose 66 deputies are essential for forming a majority. However, their leaders are demanding the withdrawal of the pension reform.
Lecornu’s task is more challenging than it was a week ago, with the threat of no-confidence votes from both the left and the far right. EFE
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