PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, days after accepting his resignation, in a dramatic reversal that lays bare the turbulence rocking French politics.
The Élysée Palace announced Friday that Macron had “named Mr Sébastien Lecornu prime minister and charged him with forming a government.” In a post on X, Lecornu pledged to “end this political crisis that is exhausting the French people and harming France’s image abroad.”
A Week of Chaos in Paris
Lecornu’s reinstatement capped an extraordinary week. After unveiling a cabinet on Sunday that was quickly condemned by his own interior minister, he offered his resignation Monday morning. Macron accepted it, then reversed course mid-week, asking Lecornu to lead consultations to find a successor. When those talks collapsed, the president turned back to him.
The decision drew fury from rivals. Far-right leader Jordan Bardella called it “a bad joke and a democratic disgrace,” while Marine Le Pen demanded immediate elections. On the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon quipped, “Macron can do nothing other than Macron.”
Lecornu Seeks Stability, Bans 2027 Ambitions
To calm unrest, Lecornu promised open parliamentary debate on disputed policies—marking a shift from Macron’s repeated use of executive decrees.
He also set a new rule for ministers: they must renounce any presidential ambitions for 2027. The condition effectively sidelines prominent hopefuls such as Bruno Retailleau and Le Pen, both expected to run in the next race.
Lecornu has yet to unveil his new cabinet, but with France’s government gridlocked and Macron’s popularity sliding, his reappointment could either steady the ship—or deepen the crisis.
