Macron Reappoints Lecornu as PM in Race Against Budget Deadline

In a last-ditch effort to stabilize France’s chaotic political scene, President Emmanuel Macron has brought back Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, just weeks after Lecornu stepped down.

The announcement came Friday, following tense talks with party leaders at the Élysée Palace. With a critical Monday deadline to present the 2026 budget looming, Lecornu’s return is a high-stakes move to keep the government afloat.

Lecornu, a centrist and former armed forces minister, is stepping into a mess.

Last year’s snap elections, called by Macron in a bold but risky move, left France with a divided parliament split among the left-wing New Popular Front, Macron’s centrists, and the conservative Les Républicains. The result? Three prime ministers in a year, each tripped up by fierce debates over budget cuts, pension changes, and tax increases.

• Macron Reappoints Sébastien Lecornu as French PM Amid Budget Crisis
• France Faces Political Turmoil as Macron Brings Back Lecornu to Push 2026 Budget
• Lecornu Returns as France’s Prime Minister to Rescue Macron’s Budget Plan

"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 address the daily life issues of our fellow citizens," Lecornu posted on X. He promised to end the “political chaos frustrating the French” and form a diverse cabinet, but with a catch: ministers must swear off running for president in 2027.

Macron’s morning meeting with party leaders aimed to build bridges, but it sparked outrage among leftists, who were upset no progressive was chosen as PM. Emmanuel Macron offered to delay a controversial pension age increase to 64 until 2028, but it didn’t win them over. “This is a mockery of democracy,” said Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally, calling the new government a slap in the face to voters. Marine Tondelier of the Greens also rejected the offer, demanding the 2023 pension reforms be scrapped entirely.

The economy is feeling the strain. Bank of France Governor François Villeroy de Galhau warned on RTL that “uncertainty is killing growth,” estimating a 0.2% GDP hit from the turmoil. France’s deficit, at 5.4% of GDP, far exceeds EU rules. Lecornu aims to cut it to 4.7-5% next year, but he’ll need support from centrists and conservatives to pass the budget. Failure could lead to emergency measures or even new elections, which could boost the far right.

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Macron’s critics say he’s out of touch, still paying for his 2024 election gamble. “It’s like rewinding the clock,” one Socialist lawmaker said privately. Yet Lecornu’s freedom to build a fresh team offers a sliver of hope. As markets wobble and credit agencies watch closely, Monday’s budget reveal will show whether Lecornu can pull France back from the brink—or push it closer to collapse.