In brief
In a significant shift in French politics, President Emmanuel Macron has appointed Sébastien Lecornu as the new Prime Minister, shortly after the previous leader, François Bayrou, was ousted. Lecornu's main challenges will include navigating the complexities of a minority government and addressing France's public debt crisis, which has reached alarming levels. His appointment has been met with mixed reactions from political allies and opponents, with calls for compromise and unity amidst calls for protests from grassroots movements.
President Emmanuel Macron has named close ally Sébastien Lecornu as the new French prime minister, 24 hours after a vote of confidence ousted François Bayrou as head of government.
Lecornu, 39, was among the favourites to take over, having spent the past three years as armed forces minister focusing on France's response to Russia's war in Ukraine.
In a statement, the Elysée Palace confirmed Lecornu, the seventh PM of Macron's presidency, has been tasked with consulting political parties to adopt the next budget for France.
Bayrou's push for budget cuts was rejected, leading to his downfall. Critics have condemned Lecornu's appointment amidst fears of political instability.
Lecornu emphasized his commitment to defending France's strength and ensuring unity and political stability in his new role.
His immediate focus will be tackling France's spiraling public debt, which has reached €3.3 trillion, affecting the nation’s economic output.
The political landscape remains volatile, with anti-government protests planned and varying opinions from political factions on the way forward.
