PARIS: French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu announced a new 34-member government late Sunday, his second attempt to form a Cabinet following a week of political turbulence that saw his first lineup collapse amid criticism.
President Emmanuel Macron’s reappointment of Lecornu comes as France faces mounting pressure to present its 2026 draft budget to parliament by Tuesday, in what the premier described as a “mission government” tasked primarily with ensuring fiscal stability.
“The mission government is appointed to provide a budget for France before the end of the year,” Lecornu wrote on X.
The reshuffled Cabinet — down from 36 ministers under former premier François Bayrou — retains key figures including Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot, Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin, and Culture Minister Rachida Dati.
New appointments include Laurent Nuñez as Interior Minister, Catherine Vautrin as Defence Minister, and Roland Lescure as Economy Minister. The first Cabinet meeting is scheduled for Tuesday.
The new government faces a volatile parliament, with Macron’s centrist alliance lacking a clear majority. Opposition blocs — including the far-right National Rally and the hard-left France Unbowed — have already threatened votes of no confidence, while The Republicans have vowed only selective cooperation.
Political analysts say Lecornu’s immediate challenge will be to rally enough cross-party support to pass the budget and avoid triggering another governmental crisis.
